W\/V 


AN  ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  ON  DECEMBER  31,  1856, 


AT  THE  OPENING  OF 


THE  ASHMUN  INSTITUTE, 


NEAR  OXFORD,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


BY 


C.  VAN  RENSSELAER,  D.D, 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

JOSEPH  M.  WILSON, 

111  SOUTH  TENTH  STREET. 

1859. 


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AN  ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  ON  DECEMBER  31,  1856, 


AT  THE  OPENING  OF 

THE  ASHMUN  INSTITUTE, 


NEAR  OXFORD,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


C.  VAN  RENSSELAER,  D.D., 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

JOSEPH  M.  WILSON, 

111  SOUTH  TENTH  STREET. 

1859. 


This  Address  is  substantially  the  same  as  delivered.  Several  parts,  however, 
have  been  considerably  expanded.  It  was  first  published  in  1857,  in  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Magazine, — of  which  the  writer  is  the  Editor, — from  which  periodical  it 
was  republished  in  11  Home,  the  School,  and  the  Church”  for  1859.  A  few  extra 
copies  have  been  struck  off,  whilst  the  type  was  standing. 


GOD  GLORIFIED  BY  AFRICA. 


In  the  name  of  the  God  of  Ethiopia,  and  our  God,  the  founda¬ 
tions  of  a  Christian  institution  have  been  laid  with  pious  care.  The 
issues  of  the  enterprise  are  committed  to  Him,  “  who  hath  made  of 
one  blood  all  nations  of  men.”  The  grace  of  his  Spirit  is  invoked; 
the  aid  of  his  Providence  is  supplicated;  the  promotion  of  his  Glory 
is  sought.  “Let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us,  and 
establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us  ;  yea,  the  work  of 
our  hands  establish  thou  it.” 

This  institution,  for  the  training  of  Africa’s  sons,  bears  the  name 
of  Ashmun,  one  of  Africa’s  philanthropists.  A  brief  record  of 
Ashmun  may  be  hastily  but  reverentially  woven  for  the  occasion. 
Let  us  place  it,  a  wreath  to  his  memory,  over  the  door  of  the  insti¬ 
tution  that  bears  his  precious  and  immortal  name. 

Jehudi  Ashmun  was  born  at  Champlain,  N.  Y.,  in  1794,  and 
died  at  New  Haven,  in  1828.  In  this  brief  but  intense  human  in¬ 
terval,  much  was  done.  His  thirty-four  years  were  a  long  life: 
who  lives  well,  lives  long. 

Ashmun  was  a  ripe  scholar,  a  devoted  Christian,  a  great  public 
benefactor.  He  sailed  for  the  Colony  of  Liberia  in  1822,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-eight  years.  A  young  Columbus  on  a  voyage  of  high 
discovery,  a  continent  w^as  his  aim;  and  on  the  streamer  at  the 
mast-head  of  the  brig  Strong,  outfiying  to  the  wind,  was  the  motto, 
“Eor  God  and  Africa.”  As  the  first  Colonial  Governor,  to  plan 
and  to  execute  were  his  daily  work.  In  a  word,  Ashmun’s  admi¬ 
nistration  gave  to  Liberia  its  character  and  its  policy.  He  culti¬ 
vated  amity  with  the  native  tribes ;  purchased  large  additions  to 
the  territory ;  arrested  the  infamous  slave-trade  ;  nurtured  morals 
and  education ;  advocated  and  promoted  the  cause  of  Christian 
missions;  admitted  the  Colonists  to  a  participation  in  the  govern¬ 
ment;  and  demonstrated  to  the  world  the  utility  and  the  glory  of 
the  great  scheme  of  African  Colonization. 


4 


Ashmun’s  health  gave  way  under  the  double  influences  of  a  burn¬ 
ing  sun  and  consuming  labours.  He  anticipated  an  early  death ; 
and  to  die  early  was  a  motive  for  increased  labour.  “  The  candle 
of  life,”  he  writes,  “  burns  fast  in  this  region.”  “I  wish  to  make 
the  most  of  the  little  that  remains,  and  to  see  the  most  work  pos¬ 
sible  accomplished  in  the  least  time.”  He  lived  to  die  in 
America,  having  survived  a  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  vessel 
at  New  Haven. 

An  affecting  scene  took  place  at  his  funeral.  A  large  concourse 
had  assembled  in  the  Centre  Church.  A  hymn  of  Zion  had  been 
sung,  and  a  prayer  offered  to  the  God  of  hope  and  consolation. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Bacon  was  about  to  begin  his  funeral  sermon,*  when 
a  venerable  and  solitary  female  walked  slowly  up  the  aisle,  and 
with  a  look  that  told  the  unutterable  history  of  her  sorrows,  ap¬ 
proached  the  corpse.  It  was  the  mother  of  Ashmun.  Never  did 
human  sympathy  thrill  with  tenderer  emotion  and  pathos  through¬ 
out  a  vast  concourse  of  anxious  spectators,  than  when  this  aged 
Christian  matron,  who  had  travelled  for  several  days  and  nights  in 
the  hope  of  embracing  her  living  son,  pressed  her  lips  and  her  heart 
upon  the  coffin  which  concealed  his  mortal  remains  forever  from  her 
sight.f 

Brethren  !  from  the  coffin  and  grave  of  Ashmun,  we  turn  to  the 
cradle  of  our  Christian  institution — to  this  living  new-born  child, 
that  bears  his  name,  inherits  his  spirit,  and  exists  to  carry  forward 
his  great  designs.  Baptized  in  the  mother  arms  of  your  Presby¬ 
tery,  and  dedicated  anew  this  day  to  God,  may  the  Ashmun  In¬ 
stitute  grow  up  in  the  nurture  and  power  of  Christian  life,  and 
testify,  to  the  end  of  time,  of  Christ’s  grace  to  a  benighted  con¬ 
tinent. 

The  general  theme  of  my  Discourse  on  this  occasion  is,  GOD 
GLORIFIED  BY  AFRICA.  The  particular  form  in  which  I 
shall  attempt  to  unfold  it  is,  by  showing  that  the  African  race 
IN  THIS  COUNTRY  IS  TO  BE  A  GREAT  INSTRUMENTALITY  FOR  SIGNAL 

displays  of  God’s  goodness,  grace,  and  glory  in  Africa. 

Let  us  approach  the  subject  with  docility' and  awe.  The  ways 
of  Providence  are  mysterious.  Their  explanation  is  often  long  de¬ 
layed  by  the  complications  which  evolve  their  true  end  in  human 
history.  Calvin  remarks:  “  The  Providence  of  God,  the  more  cir¬ 
cuitously  it  appears  to  flow,  shines  forth  all  the  more  wonderfully 
in  the  end;  since  it  never  really  wanders  from  its  direct  object,  or 
fails  of  its  effect  when  its  due  time  is  come.”  The  scroll  is  usually 
unrolled  by  degrees  ;  and  passing  events  disclose  their  purpose  only 
as  God  may  condescend  to  establish  the  interpretation.  Privileged 

*  An  able  and  appropriate  Discourse,  delivered  August  27th,  1828,  from  the 
text :  u  To  what  purpose  is  this  waste  ?”  Matt.  26  :  8. 

f  Gurley’s  Life  of  Ashmun,  p.  393. 


5 


are  we,  if  we  can  but  attain  the  elevation  to  discern,  “  Lo,  these 
are  'parts  of  his  ways.” 

PROVIDENCE  INDICATES  A  GREAT  PLAN. 

I.  The  first  proposition  offered  in  an  attempt  to  solve  what  may 
be  called  the  African  problem,  is  a  general  one,  namely :  Past 
providences,  connected  with  the  African  population  in  the  United 
States,  seem  to  indicate  some  great  design  in  the  mind  of  God. 

The  facts  of  African  history  rise  up  in  the  vista  of  centuries, 
like  dark  mountains,  whose  heights,  inaccessible  to  mortals,  are  yet 
reached  by  an  illuminating  sun. 

1.  It  was  a  wonderful  providence  that  permitted  the  African 
people  to  be  torn  from,  their  native  continent  and  sold  into  bondage. 
This  barbarous  aggression  on  the  rights  of  mankind  was  perpetrated 
under  the  double  plea  of  religion  and  of  the  necessities  of  labour. 
On  the  wide  Atlantic,  from  shore  to  shore,  was  sounded  forth  the 
horrid  cry  of  the  Slave-trade  ;  Roman  Catholic  Spain  and  Portugal 
uniting  with  Protestant  Holland  and  England,  in  the  paean  to  Bar¬ 
barity.  The  history  of  Christian  civilization  presents  the  strange 
and  dishonouring  incident  of  the  participation  in  the  traffic  of 
human  flesh  and  blood  by  nations  of  every  creed.  It  was  in  the 
year  1620,  four  months  before  the  arrival  of  the  Mayflower,  that 
a  Dutch  ship  landed  and  sold  its  first  cargo  at  Jamestown — a  cargo 
of  African  life,  consigned  under  British  laws  to  American  bondage. 

u  Great  God  !  thy  whole  creation  groans, 

Thy  fair  world  writhes  in  pain  ; 

Shall  the  dread  incense  of  its  moans 
Arise  to  thee  in  vain  ?” 

Sin  in  Africa,  like  sin  in  Eden,  was  mysteriously  permitted  in 
Divine  Providence.  It  was  permitted,  but  not  sanctioned  ;  and 
permitted  with  the  certainty  of  being  overruled.  God’s  decrees 
relate  to  all  his  creatures,  and  to  all  their  actions,  without  inter¬ 
fering  with  accountability  or  free  agency,  in  any  form  or  degree. 
Primeval  guilt,  which  brought  an  inheritance  of  woe,  and  of  pun¬ 
ishment  upon  our  race,  has  nevertheless  been  made  to  usher  in  the 
brightest  manifestations  of  the  riches  of  grace  in  Jesus  Christ. 
Joseph’s  bondage,  incurred  by  the  wickedness  of  his  brethren,  was 
the  instrument  to  advance  the  glory  of  Israel.  In  like  manner 
God  will  bring  forth  infinite  blessings  out  of  the  deep  infamies  of 
the  slave-trade ;  and  will  cause  African  captivity  to  promote  the 
triumphs  of  his  kingdom  in  ways  long  kept  back  from  full  dis¬ 
closure.  Providence  permits,  restrains,  and  finally  circumvents 
and  crushes  human  iniquity,  producing  from  its  ruins,  most  holy, 
wise,  and  powerful  results.  “  His  providence,”  in  the  language  of 
our  Confession  of  Faith,  “  disposes  all  things  for  the  good  of  his 
Church.”  In  what  other  light  can  Christians  regard  the  violent 
transportation  of  Africans  into  slavery  ?  The  event  will  verily 


6 


redound  to  everlasting  righteousness  among  the  nations.  Even  the 
glare  of  its  enormity  reveals  purposes  of  mercy  in  the  lighting  up 
of  the  distant  future  of  a  great  continent.  To  overrule  evil  is  a 
grand  principle  of  the  Divine  government.  “  Surely  the  wrath  of 
man  shall  praise  thee;  the  remainder  of  wrath  thou  wilt  restrain.” 
God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa.  A  deep  and  broad  foundation  for 
a  vast  superstructure  of  praise  has  been  laid  by  the  African  race 
divided  into  two  bands.  Events  that  are  to  be  the  admiration  of  the 
world  have  been  wrapped  up  in  the  mystery  of  this  dispensation,  the 
light  of  whose  glory  begins  to  dawn. 

2.  Providence  had  a  design  for  good  in  making  the  United  States 
the  chief  scene  of  African  bondage. 

Wherever  the  slaves,  taken  from  Africa,  were  to  be  located,  it 
is  obvious  that  their  character  wrould  be  affected  by  the  form  of 
government,  language,  habits,  and  religion,  of  the  people  among 
whom  they  dwelt.  Their  location  was,  in  a  great  measure,  to  decide 
their  future  destiny.  Why  were  the  Africans  sent  over  to  this  free, 
Anglo-Saxon,  Protestant  country,  rather  than  to  Spain,  Italy,  Tur¬ 
key,  or  to  the  West  Indies  or  South  America  exclusively  ?  If  the 
necessities  of  labour  required  their  transportation  to  this  conti¬ 
nent,  who  arranged  the  adaptations  of  time  and  place,  and  esta¬ 
blished  the  providential  laws  that  were  to  give  to  degraded  slaves 
the  benefits  of  Christian  civilization?  The  simple  point,  now  to  be 
considered,  is  the  fact  that  the  African  population  in  this  country 
have  attained  to  a  good  degree  of  elevation  of  character.  The  best 
portion  of  the  race  is  with  us  at  this  day.  No  other  equal  number 
of  Africans  possess  the  character  of  the  aggregate  numbers  in  the 
United  States  of  America.  Further  than  this  :  If  we  exclude  from 
the  survey  a  few  Protestant  nations,  no  other  equal  number  of  any 
one  country ,  or  race ,  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  are  more  religious 
and  upright  than  our  own  children  of  bondage.  They  have  en¬ 
joyed  many  and  great  advantages  of  general  improvement  which 
have  raised  them  above  the  degradation  of  barbarians  and  heathen, 
or  of  corrupt  and  perverted  Christians.  Tens  of  thousands  are 
freemen  in  Jesus  Christ,  daily  pouring  out  their  hearts’  devotions 
to  the  Everlasting  God,  the  Father  of  all.  On  almost  every  plan¬ 
tation  are  to  be  found  negroes  of  high  character,  intelligent  men, 
and  true;  and  scattered  throughout  the  land,  at  the  north,  south, 
east,  and  west,  Africa  has  some  of  the  noblest  specimens  of  huma¬ 
nity  that  the  sun  of  heaven  shines  upon. 

The  progress  of  religion  among  the  African  population  in  the 
United  States  may  well  cause  the  human  mind  to  stand  in  awe  of 
the  reserved  destiny  for  which  Providence  seems  to  be  training 
this  people.  The  following  statistics  give  the  number  of  commu¬ 
nicants  among  the  different  churches,  so  far  as  the  writer  has  been 
able,  with  some  pains,  to  gather  them. 


7 


Churches. 


Communicants. 


Presbyterians, 
Methodists,  . 
Baptists, 

Other  Churches, 


21,635 

217,590 

193,000 

10,000 


Total,  •  .  442,225 


The  whole  African  population,  at  the  present  time,  being  esti¬ 
mated  at  four  millions,  and  the  number  of  Church  members  being 
nearly  half  a  million,  it  follows,  that  about  one  in  eight  of  the 
whole  population  are  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

It  may  be  further  remarked,  that  the  whole  number  of  converts 
in  the  heathen  world,  made  by  all  churches  of  every  country,  is 
estimated  at  about  200,000  out  of  the  many  millions  to  whom  the 
Gospel  has  had  some  access.  The  slaves  are,  therefore,  in  a  com¬ 
paratively  favoured  position  in  regard  to  moral  and  religious  eleva¬ 
tion. 

Again  we  ask,  Does  not  this  moral  elevation,  under  the  influ¬ 
ences  of  Christianized  life,  point  to  some  higher  end  ?  Does  it  not 
show  African  capability,  and  foreshadow  still  greater  attainments 
in  social  rank  and  in  the  characteristics  of  civilization  ?  Would 
God  send  a  race  into  bondage  to  obtain  their  training  in  the  midst 
of  the  institutions  of  liberty  and  religion,  and  yet  have  no  great 
evangelistic  work  to  accomplish  by  such  instrumentality  ?  He  will 
be  glorified  by  Africa. 

3.  The  great  numbers  of  the  African  race,  in  this  country,  are 
an  indication  that  Providence  has  some  important  mission  for  them 
to  fulfil. 

A  comparatively  small  and  feeble  population  might  have  re¬ 
mained  among  us,  an  unnoticed  and  inefficient  element  in  the  de¬ 
velopment  of  our  national  character  and  resources.  But  there  are 
now  four  millions  of  the  descendants  of  Africa  in  the  United 
States.  To  what  purpose  is  this  vast  increase  ?  Why  is  there 
preserved  in  our  midst  this  accumulation  of  distinct  and  unab¬ 
sorbed  population  ?  Whilst  the  tribes  of  the  great  Indian  race 
have  sped  westward,  as  arrows  to  the  mark,  and  leaving  their  prai¬ 
ries  and  mounds  for  the  Anglo-Saxon  plough,  are  perishing  before 
the  advance  of  civilization,  the  African  race  is  rising  up,  like  the 
fabled  seed  in  the  furrows,  and  challenges  competition  in  numbers 
with  the  most  favoured  race  on  the  earth.  The  following  are  some 
of  the  statistics  of  population  developing  a  great  future. 

(1.)  The  total  population  of  the  United  States,  at  the  last  cen¬ 
sus  in  1850,  was  23,191,876.  Of  this  number  there  were 

Whites, .  19,553,068 

Slaves,  ....  3,204,313 

Free  Coloured,  .  .  434,495 

African  population,  .  .  .  -  3,638,808 


8 


It  thus  appears,' that  about  one  person  in  five  of  our  entire  popu¬ 
lation  is  of  African  descent.  Not  only  is  the  proportion  striking, 
hut  the  aggregate  number,  which  forms  the  proportion,  shows  that 
this  people  live  among  us  literally  in  masses.  The  descendants  of 
Africa  already  exceed  the  population  of  the  American  Colonies  at 
the  era  of  our  National  Independence.  Their  present  population 
is  about  four  millions,  and  the  next  census  will,  undoubtedly,  in¬ 
crease  it  to  between  four  and  a  half  and  five  millions.  They  are 
already  a  nation  in  numbers ;  a  prominent  wheel  within  the  cir¬ 
cling  wheel  of  a  vast  system  of  living  machinery. 

(2.)  Great  as  is  the  proportion  of  the  African  race  to  that  of 
the  white  race  in  this  whole  country,  it  deserves  to  be  noticed  that 
the  ratio  of  increase  is  in  their  favour  in  many  of  the  slaveholding 
States.  With  the  exception  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  Missouri,  and 
perhaps  one  or  two  other  States,  the  ratio  of  the  blacks  to  the 
whites  has  been,  on  the  whole,  increasing  in  the  Southern  States. 
The  slave  population  in  Alabama  and  Florida  is  44  per  cent,  of  the 
whole  population  ;  in  Louisiana,  47  per  cent.,  in  Mississippi,  51  per 
cent.,  and  in  South  Carolina  57  per  cent. ;  whereas  it  was  in  1800 
in  Mississippi  but  39  per  cent.,  and  in  South  Carolina  but  42  per 
cent.  The  Compendium  of  the  Census  Report  affirms  that  “  the 
proportion  has  been  increasing  for  the  slaves  in  the  Southern  States 
generally,”  with  the  exceptions  stated.  The  average  ratio  of  in¬ 
crease  of  the  slaves  from  1790  to  1850  has  been  29  per  cent,  of  the 
whole  population,  including  that  of  the  free  States,  which  has  had 
an  accession  of  two  millions  by  foreign  emigration.  The  African 
population  in  1790  was  757,363;  in  1850,  it  was  3,638,808  ;  and 
it  is  now  about  4,000,000. 

The  question  returns,  What  is  the  interpretation  to  be  given  to 
these  statistics  ?  Has  God  no  ulterior  and  specific  purpose  towards 
this  mass  of  population  ?  Whilst  slavery  in  some  countries,  as  in 
Cuba,  decreases  and  exhausts  population,  so  as  to  create  a  demand 
on  the  accursed  slave-trade,  in  our  own  country  the  natural  increase 
outstrips  that  of  the  white  race,  and  confounds  the  ordinary  cal¬ 
culations  of  political  economy.  Providence  controls  the  increase 
or  diminution  of  population  on  the  earth.  African  increase  has  a 
parallel  in  ancient  Egypt:  “  And  the  children  of  Israel  were  fruit¬ 
ful,  and  increased  abundantly  and  multiplied,  and  waxed  mighty, 
and  the  land  was  filled  with  them.”*  Why  ?  Had  God  any  pur¬ 
pose  -  to  accomplish  ?  The  martyred  Stephen,  inspired  by  the 
Spirit,  gives  the  interpretation  ;  “  When  the  time  of  the  promise 
drew  nigh ,  which  God  had  sworn  unto  Abraham,  the  people  grew 
and  multiplied  in  Egypt.”f  God  will  be  glorified  in  Africa. 

4.  Again ;  a  remarkable  providence  has  kept  the  African  race 
of  this  country  in  peaceable  subordination  for  a  very  long  period. 


*  Ex.  1  :  7. 


f  Acts,  7  :  17. 


9 


The  love  of  liberty  is  a  natural  instinct  in  the  human  heart. 
Some  races  cannot  be  reduced  to  bondage  ;  at  least  without  the 
contingency  of  bitter  enmity  and  fierce  insurrections.  It  is  almost 
impossible  to  subdue  Indians.  They  will  fight  in  the  sw'amps  to 
the  death ;  or  if  at  last  hemmed  in,  captured,  and  sent  by  white 
treaty  across  the  “  father  of  waters,”  they  retire  with  a  sullen  ven¬ 
geance  in  the  heart,  that  prompts  them  with  convenient  and  hope¬ 
ful  opportunity  to  grasp  the  tomahawk  and  rifle  for  a  renewal  of 
the  contest.  No  earthly  power  could  keep  four  millions  of  Indians 
in  slavery.  Other  races  are  by  nature  equally  refractory.  But 
the  African  race  is  docile,  of  quiet  disposition,  and  obedient  to 
genial  and  social  influences.  For  two  centuries,  they  have  been 
peaceful  and  patient  under  their  burdens,  and  submissive  to  their 
condition  of  slavery.  This  will  be  generally  regarded  as  a  remark¬ 
able  providence,  particularly  in  view  of  the  proportion  of  numbers 
between  the  whites  and  blacks  in  the  slaveholding  States. 

Throughout  the  entire  slaveholding  region  there  are  about  six 
and  a  quarter  millions  of  whites  and  three  and  a  half  millions  of 
blacks — a  numerical  advantage  against  the  latter  by  no  means  so 
decisive  as  to  exclude  a  special  providence  in  the  preservation  of 
almost  uninterrupted  order. 

In  the  eight  States  in  which  slavery  has  its  principal  dominion, 
viz.,  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida,  Ala¬ 
bama,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana,  the  number  of  the  whites  is 
3,268,889,  and  of  the  blacks  2,464,583,  a  proportion  advancing 
towards  numerical  equality.  Is  not  the  hand  of  God  visible  in 
maintaining  peace  between  these  large  masses  of  enslaving  and  en¬ 
slaved  ? 

In  several  of  the  States  the  population  is  almost  equal,  whilst 
in  two  States,  viz.,  South  Carolina  and  Mississippi,  the  blacks  have 
a  majority  ;  in  South  Carolina  a  majority  of  more  than  100,000. 

In  many  of  the  counties  and  parishes  of  States  where  slavery  is 
still  more  concentrated,  the  slaves  outnumber  the  whites  in  the 
proportion  of  five  or  ten  to  one. 

Still  further ;  there  are  many  plantations  in  these  States  on 
which  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  whites  reside  in  the  midst  of 
hundreds  of  negroes.  In  the  last  cases,  the  physical  power  is  de¬ 
cisively  in  the  hands  of  the  slaves. 

Under  these  various  circumstances  of  temptation  for  the  trial  of 
physical  strength,  the  African  race  has  continued  to  serve  with 
characteristic  and  almost  universal  docility.  The  amount  of  evil 
that  might  have  been  perpetrated,  however  speedily  its  authors  were 
overcome,  is  witnessed  by  the  outrages  of  the  Southampton  mas¬ 
sacre,  in  1831.  An  occasional  outbreak,  like  the  last,  has  only 
demonstrated  the  general  state  of  quiet  subordination.  There  is  a 
significance  in  the  fact  of  this  universal  peace.  Every  insurrection 
arrests  progress,  interferes  with  the  opportunities  of  intellectual 
and  religious  improvement,  and  operates  in  many  trying  ways  to 


10 


the  injury  of  both  classes  of  population.  God  has  purposely 
hushed  for  so  long  a  time  the  angry  feelings  of  the  heart.  He  has 
implanted  by  nature  generous  emotions  and  susceptibilities.  He 
has  protected  the  white  population  by  restraints  and  agencies  more 
efficacious  than  arms  and  citadels  ;  and  in  protecting  the  whites, 
he  has  also  multiplied  blessings  to  the  blacks.  Grand  ends  are 
revealed  in  a  providence  so  distinguishing,  in  a  guardianship  so 
gentle,  active,  and  long  continued — ends  which  pass  beyond  the 
mere  dwelling  together  in  peace  of  two  races  on  the  same  soil. 
God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

5.  Another  providence,  indicating  presumptively  some  great 
plan  for  the  African  race,  as  a  race ,  is  its  separation  from  the 
whites  by  the  fixedness  of  colour. 

The  dark  skin  has  not  been  removed  from  the  children  of  Ham 
by  their  residence  in  America.  A  white  race  reduced  to  bondage 
might  have  risen,  as  the  fiefs  and  serfs  of  other  countries  have 
done,  to  share  in  time  the  immunities  of  their  lords  and  masters  ; 
or  a  dark  race  of  a  colour  easily  changed ,  might,  in  the  process  of 
years,  have  passed  from  servitude  to  liberty  by  a  natural  and  un- 
obnoxious  gradation.  But  the  Ethiopian  skin  endures  the  action 
of  time.  Generations  have  not  eradicated  it.  The  race-mark  re¬ 
sists  all  the  changes  of  climate  and  habit,  in  a  new  country,  and 
in  a  temperate  zone.  Has  God  no  moral  purpose  in  endowing  so 
many  of  his  creatures  with  a  peculiar  colour  ?  Has  he  no  plan  in 
fixing  this  colour  so  deeply  in  physical  organization  as  that  a 
transfer  to  other  lands  and  climates  has  wrought  no  very  percep¬ 
tible  change  ?  Providence  is  not  chance.  Colour  indicates  pro¬ 
vidence.  God  has  a  design  in  making  African  complexion  survive 
the  bondage  in  America.  He  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

The  precise  form  in  which  God  will  execute  his  comprehensive 
plans  of  mercy  towards  this  long-disparaged  race  may  not  be  fully 
discerned.  Errors  are  liable  to  enter  into  all  human  investigations 
of  this  nature.  A  reverent  spirit  must  look  for  knowledge  above. 

u  Unsearchable!  before  whose  boundless  gaze 
The  Past,  the  Present,  and  the  Future  roll ! 

Submissive,  we  implore  thee  to  unshroud 
The  Sun  of  truth.” 

§ 

Thus  far,  the  discussion  has  only  attempted  to  point  out  indica¬ 
tions  of  a  general  purpose  of  benevolence. 

The  providences  noticed  claim  consideration.  Viewed  simply  as 
isolated  acts  and  ordinances  in  the  government  of  the  King  of  na¬ 
tions,  each  has  an  interest  of  its  own  to  a  reflecting  mind;  whilst 
considered  as  parts  of  a  great  scheme  established,  sustained,  and 
executed  by  divine  wisdom  and  power  for  the  benefit  of  a  race  and 


11 


of  a  continent,  they  reflect  increased  glory  upon  the  wonderful  and 
mysterious  ways  of  Him  who  “  worketh  all  in  all.” 

Is  there  any  connection  between  these  providences  and  the  wel¬ 
fare  of  Africa  ?  Its  proof  will  be  attempted. 

THE  PROVIDENTIAL  PLAN  POINTS  TO  AFRICA. 

II.  The  providences  of  God  have  been,  of  late  years,  indicating 
a  closer  and  closer  connection  between  our  African  population  and 
the  continent  OF  Africa,  as  the  chief  scene  of  the  highest  de¬ 
velopment  of  the  race.* 

God  is  in  history.  He  discloses  his  designs  by  actions  as  well 
as  by  revelation.  There  is  a  logic  in  events  that  ultimately  brings 
out  its  conclusion  with  divine  verity  and  majestic  impression. 
The  imperfection  of  human  investigation  anterior  to  the  full  dis¬ 
closures  of  Providence  being  admitted,  it  is  lawful,  reverential, 
and  dutiful,  to  examine  events  in  their  historical  connection,  and 
to  endeavour  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  their  moral  import.  Our 
Lord  reproached  the  Pharisees  for  their  inattention  to  the  signs 
that  were  ushering  in  the  new  dispensation.  “  Ye  can  discern  the 
face  of  the  sky,  but  can  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the  times  ?”f 
God’s  condescending  and  advancing  providences  in  reference  to 
the  African  race,  invite  to  more  specific  inquiries  concerning  the 
Divine  intentions  towards  this  interesting  portion  of  the  human 
family. 

11  Yes  !  Thou  art  as  true  a  man 

As  moves  the  human  mass  among; 

As  much  a  part  of  the  Great  Plan 
That  with  Creation’s  dawn  began, 

As  any  of  the  throng.” 

God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa.  The  question,  pertinent 
to  this  discussion,  is,  What  is  God  doing,  at  the  present  time,  to 
show  that  Africa  itself  is  to  be  the  chief  scene  of  high  moral  action 
for  the  coloured  population  of  this  country? 

What  is  God  doing?  Behold  his  wonderful  works.  On  the 
shores  of  the  Ethiopian  continent,  the  Republic  of  Liberia  stands 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth  !  Emerging  from  its  colonial  state, 
it  has  become  an  independent,  self-sustaining,  accredited  govern¬ 
ment,  waving  its  flag  of  liberty  over  a  favoured  and  happy  people. 
Its  early  obstacles  and  difficulties  were  the  providential  elements 

*  The  expression  “  chief  scene”  is  used,  in  order  not  to  exclude  the  distinct 
recognition  of  Divine  goodness — past,  present,  and  future — towards  the  race  in 
this  country.  Even  if  God  had  no  ulterior  plan  of  benevolence  in  Africa,  the  re¬ 
sults  of  his  plan  prove,  that  it  has  accomplished  great  good  for  our  coloured  popu¬ 
lation  in  this  country.  Whilst  much  more  may  be  done  for  their  benefit  in 
America  hereafter,  we  still  believe  that  Africa  is  to  witness  the  highest  culture 
and  influence  of  the  race. 

f  Matthew  1G  :  3. 


12 


of  gradual  advancement,  and  permanent  prosperity.  The  foun¬ 
dations  of  many  generations  have  been  laid.  The  Republic  has  its 
constitution,  its  president,  its  judiciary,  its  legislature,  its  militia 
and  navy,  its  schools  and  churches,  its  arts  and  manufactures,  its 
trade  and  commerce, — all  the  political  insignia  of  a  prosperous  and 
independent  nation.  Its  internal  condition  is  the  exponent  of  its 
influence  on  the  well-being  of  the  surrounding  tribes.  A  large  ex¬ 
tent  of  sea-coast  has  been  rescued  from  the  iniquities  of  the  slave- 
trade  ;  the  arts  of  civilization  are  penetrating  into  the  interior ; 
and  religion  is  advancing  its  blessed  dominion  wider  and  wider 
among  the  heathen.  Without  entering  here  into  more  detail,  it  is 
sufficient  to  say  that  Liberia  is  in  an  excellent  state  of  prosperity, 
with  every  prospect  of  moral  and  political  enlargement. 

This  Republic — who  founded  it  ?  Who  were  the  adventurers 
that  came  to  those  desolated  shores,  and  on  wastes  made  dreary 
by  crime  and  oppression,  planted  the  institutions  of  civilization  ? 
They  were  African  emigrants  from  the  United  States — men,  who, 
either  themselves  or  their  ancestors,  were  carried  from  their  native 
land  into  American  bondage.  The  black  race  has  begun  on  its 
own  soil  the  development  of  God’s  grand  and  ulterior  purposes. 
The  plan,  foreshadowed  by  many  signs,  is  in  a  state  of  actual  exe¬ 
cution.  The  process  is  visibly  going  forward  which  demonstrates 
the  connection  between  the  race  in  America  and  the  race  in  Africa. 
Deep  significancy  dwells  in  the  wonderful  method  by  which  this 
new  government  upon  the  earth  has  been  established.  It  is  be¬ 
coming  apparent  that  a  chief  mode  of  blessing  Africa,  is  in  its  co¬ 
lonization  by  its  distant  descendants.  God  will  be  glorified  there, 
even  by  transferring  back  to  its  shores  pioneers  of  knowledge,  civi¬ 
lization,  and  religion.  “Lo,  he  doth  utter  his  voice,  and  that  a 
mighty  voice !” 

Some  stress  must  be  laid  upon  the  fact,  that  Liberia  is  the 
greatest  achievement  of  the  African  race.  The  coloured  popula¬ 
tion  in  the  United  States  have  already  erected  on  their  native 
shores  monuments  of  a  higher  capability  than  that  which  reared 
cities  and  empires  of  ancient  civilization.  Liberia,  with  its  institu¬ 
tions  of  liberty  and  religion,  surpasses,  in  true  Christian  greatness, 
all  the  kingdoms  that  have  ever  held  rule  upon  the  continent. 
This  remark  is  pre-eminently  true,  if  applied  to  the  Negro  race  of 
Western  and  Central  Africa,  from  which  our  slaves  have  descended, 
and  with  which  their  physical  characteristics  more  particularly  iden¬ 
tify  them.  From  the  Senegal  and  Congo  to  the  great  Cape,  and 
from  the  west  to  the  interior,  comparatively  few  advances  have  ever 
been  made  in  the  habits  and  culture  of  a  higher  life.  Heathenism 
pervades  the  millions  ;  has  been  their  destiny  for  centuries  ;  and 
has  in  itself  no  promise  of  amelioration  for  the  future.  In  all  hu¬ 
man  probability,  centuries  would  have  still  passed  away  before  a 
government,  of  the  character  of  Liberia,  'would  have  been  consti¬ 
tuted  out  of  native  materials.  The  same  Providence  which  has 


13 


permitted  a  thick  darkness  to  settle  on  the  land,  has  caused  the 
descendants  of  the  negro,  born  in  a  distant  country,  to  return  to 
bless  it  with  the  wonderful  resources  of  Christian  civilization.  In 
no  part  of  the  world  have  the  men  of  the  dark  skin  ever  accom¬ 
plished  such  wonders  of  self-reliance,  capability,  and  moral  achieve¬ 
ment  as  on  Liberian  soil.*  The  inference  is  rational,  that  God,  in 
thus  honouring  so  conspicuously  their  deeds  on  their  native  conti¬ 
nent,  is  designating  the  true  and  appropriate  field  of  their  highest 
destiny.  What  is  He  doing?  Behold  what  has  been  done  ! 

2.  “  Can  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the  times  ?”  Providence  is  de¬ 
claring  that  the  black  and  white  races  cannot  advantageously  live  to¬ 
gether  as  equals  in  this  country — a  declaration  practically  connecting 
the  highest  destiny  of  the  blacks  with  Africa.  The  gloomy  future 
of  the  coloured  population  is  impenetrable  on  the  supposition  that 
that  population  is  to  remain  permanently  in  the  United  States. 
The  following  theories  may  be  suggested  as  aids  to  grope  a  way 
through  the  labyrinth  of  this  perplexity. 

Can  the  African  race  conquer  a  portion  of  our  territory  for  its 
own  separate  and  independent  domain  ?  Never. 

Will  a  separate  territory  be  voluntarily  given  to  it  in  any  part 
of  our  country  ?  There  are  no  indications  of  a  national  gift  so 
generous  and  fraternal. 

Is  the  African  race  likely  to  perish  before  civilization,  as  the 
great  Indian  race  has  done  ?  No  ;  far  from  it,  indeed. 

Will  it  always  remain  in  its  present  state  of  subjection  and 
slavery  ?  Certainly  not. 

Will  the  African  race,  on  its  deliverance  from  slavery,  retire 
into  the  Southwest,  outside  of  our  present  national  boundaries, 
and  there  become  mingled  with  other  mixed  races  ?  A  portion  of 
our  coloured  population  will,  in  all  probability,  remain  on  some 
part  of  our  continent,  or  its  islands  ;  but  the  future  of  this  rem¬ 
nant  is  far  from  being  hopeful,  in  the  lights  and  shades  of  passing 
history.*)* 

*  No  special  allusion  is  made  to  Sierra  Leone,  because  Liberia  alone  sustains 
practical  relations  to  our  own  country  on  this  question  ;  and  may  be  considered, 
indeed,  the  representative  of  the  whole  colonization  interests  in  Africa.  Sierra 
Leone  was  first  settled  by  blacks  from  this  country. 

y  The  following  extract  from  a  letter,  written  to  the  Editor  by  one  of  our  most 
distinguished  ministers,  currente  calamo,  but  from  well-digested  stores  of  learning, 
will  be  read  with  great  interest.  The  writer  is  a  warm  friend  of  African  Coloni¬ 
zation,  and  here  presents  views  which  are  supplemental  to  that  great  enterprise. 

u  I  feel  much  more  concern  about  the  future  of  the  race.  God  holds  that  pro¬ 
blem  in  his  own  awful  hand  for  solution.  Sometimes  such  faint  glimpses  as  these 
open  on  me  : 

1.  Note  on  the  map  of  North  and  South  America,  the  solid  mass  of  black  popu¬ 
lation  in  the  United  States,  densest  in  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  &c.,  and  shading 
off  at  the  north  and  west. 

2.  Now  this  column  has  for  150  years  been  suffering  a  marked  change.  Its 
head  once  rested  in  Massachusetts.  Every  year  brings  this  northern  margin  far- 


14 


Will  the  race  rise  to  social  equality  and  partake  of  political  pri¬ 
vileges  with  other  classes  in  the  same  community  ?  This  is  equally 
improbable. 

Few  intelligent  and  reflecting  minds  will  accept  any  of  these 
alternatives  as  the  best  and  the  true  solution  of  African  destiny. 
God’s  plan  overreaches  in  grandeur  all  human  proposals ;  the 
wonderful  plan  of  colonization,  whose  pathway  is  across  the  ocean, 
and  whose  end  is  the  elevation  of  the  African  race  on  its  own  re¬ 
novated  and  expectant  continent. 

Of  the  foregoing  theories  which  make  this  country  the  perma¬ 
nent  home  of  our  coloured  population,  the  last  is  the  stronghold  of 
the  opponents  of  colonization.  Its  examination  will  unfold  a 
second  proof  of  the  ordained  connection  of  the  race  with  Africa 
itself,  as  its  final  destination  and  the  best  field  for  its  Christianized 
energies. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  there  is  a  deep-seated  repugnance  and 
prejudice  between  the  white  and  black  races,  in  the  United  States. 
This  prejudice  does  not  exist,  to  the  same  extent,  between  the  white 
races  in  other  countries  and  the  descendants  of  Africa.  But  it 
exists  with  no  small  degree  of  force  in  our  own  country ;  and  it  is 
not  confined  to  the  whites ;  it  is  a  mutual  prejudice  felt  by  both 
parties.  The  recognition  of  the  great  truth  that  “  God  hath  made 
of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men,”  is  not  called  in  question  by  a  law 
of  races  which  simply  discourages  unreserved  social  equality.  The 
tastes,  natural  or  moral,  of  our  common  nature  possess  some  autho¬ 
rity  among  races  of  different  colour,  Caucasian,  Mongolian,  Malay, 
Ethiopian,  or  American,  without  necessarily  involving  sin.  The 
Liberians  exclude  the  whites  from  civil  and  political  privileges  in 

ther  south.  In  no  strong  sense  can  we  call  Delaware,  Maryland,  West  Virginia, 
or  East  Missouri,  slaveholding  States.  At  the  same  time,  the  southeast  terminus 
is  growing  denser.  The  entire  slave  column  is,  with  a  glacier-like  motion,  moving 
towards  the  south. 

3.  All  these  causes  now  operating  will  make  this  change  more  and  more  strik¬ 
ing.  There  is  no  reinforcement  at  the  northern  end.  Even  from  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  and  Kentucky,  the  black  emigration  sets  constantly  southward. 

4.  The  region  of  the  earth  towards  which  this  tendency  of  the  slave-people 
manifests  itself,  is  precisely  that  which  offers  to  them  two  great  advantages. 

(1.)  Congenial  climate.  The  Northern  climate  kills  off  thousands: 

(2.)  Diminution  of  the  prejudice  of  colour.  As  a  consequence,  intermarriage 
of  the  races  not  only  can  take  place  more  easily,  but  does  take  place.  Mexico  is 
a  country  of  amalgamation.  I  have  seen  numerous  mulatto  officers  on  Mexican 
frigates.  The  rescue  of  the  pure  Spanish  blood,  la  sangre  azul,  is  now  hopeless. 
Even  in  Jamaica  the  like  is  true.  In  New  Grenada,  Venezuela,  and  Brazil,  the 
mixture  is  proceeding  yet  more  rapidly. 

5.  Hateful,  therefore,  as  amalgamation  is  to  our  mind,  it  is  in  regular  and  in¬ 
creasing  operation. 

6.  The  issue,  some  ages  hence,  will  be  a  people,  in  tropical  America,  who  shall 
be  the  resultant  of  Indian,  African,  and  Caucasian  blood. 

7.  Less  confidently,  but  with  some  assurance,  I  foresee  such  economic  and  com¬ 
mercial  changes,  as  shall  make  Southern  slavery  unprofitable,  and  then  it  will 
cease. 

8.  Our  present  duty  is  to  prepare  the  race  for  such  a  destiny.” 


15 


their  republic,  after  the  same  manner  that  we  do  men  of  their  colour 
in  ours.  Without  denying  that  these  natural  prejudices  often  give 
occasion  for  the  excitement  of  sinful  emotions,  it  is  impossible  not 
to  see  that  the  two  races  are  really  kept  distinct  in  this  country ; 
and  so  distinct,  that  their  commingling  together  on  terms  of  social 
and  political  equality  seems  out  of  the  question. 

This  is  a  harsh  alternative.  But  all  races  must  abide  their 
destiny,  and  yield  to  providential  law.  The  present  unequal  dis¬ 
tributions  of  Providence  may  be  the  wisest  means  of  eventually 
working  out  the  true  compensations  of  the  African  race.  Compen¬ 
sation  will  at  last  come. 

“  We  will  trust  God.  The  blank  interstices 
Men  take  for  ruins,  He  will  build  into 

With  pillared  marbles  rare,  or  knit  across 
With  generous  arches,  till  the  fane’s  complete. 

This  world  has  no  perdition,  if  some  loss.” 

Far  better  for  our  coloured  population  to  retire  from  an  unequal 
contest  against  inveterate  prejudice,  than  stand  disheartened  and 
dismayed  before  the  discipline  of  its  stern  emergency.  God  will  re¬ 
pair  their  losses  in  a  better  way  and  in  a  better  land.  The  mingling 
together  of  the  two  races  on  equal  terms  in  this  country  appears  an 
impracticability  ;  or  rather,  it  is  an  event  which  does  not  seem  to  be 
within  the  design  of  Providence. 

The  experiment  has  been  tried  for  a  long  time.  More  than  a 
century  has  passed  away  since  the  races  were  brought  into  contact. 
Has  time  softened  the  prejudices  of  colour,  and  removed  the  alien¬ 
ations  of  diverse  and  unequal  condition  ? 

The  experiment  has  been  tried  under  every  variety  of  circum¬ 
stance.  Emancipation  in  the  Slave  States  has  not  elevated  the  con¬ 
dition  of  the  negro.  The  Free  States  refuse  to  the  African  race  a 
fundamental  right  of  freemen, — the  right  of  voting  for  their  rulers;* 
and  however  much  their  general  condition  may  be  ameliorated,  there 
is  not  the  slightest  approximation  to  social  equality  with  the  whites. 
Even  the  ultra-abolitionists  do  not  practically  carry  out  their  horta¬ 
tory  views  by  personal  example.  The  Irish  emigrants  are  negro- 
haters,  to  a  very  great  extent,  and  refuse  matrimonial  alliances. 
Under  what  form  of  external  circumstance  has  not  the  experiment 
been  proved  an  impracticability  ? 

The  experiment  has  been  tried  with  advantages  of  religion  and 
liberty  on  its  side.  No  country  has  a  purer  religious  faith,  or  a 
more  earnest  practical  religion  than  ours.  Our  free  institutions 
also  naturally  cherish  sentiments  of  equality  and  fraternity.  But 

*  The  writer  has  no  sympathy  with  this  legislation,  which  he  regards  as  inex¬ 
pedient,  unrepublican,  and  oppressive.  When  the  new  Constitution  of  New  Jersey 
was  submitted  to  the  people  in  1844,  the  writer  was  in  the  minority  who  voted 
against  it,  and  he  did  so  because  the  new  Constitution  refused  to  recognize  the 
political  rights  of  the  free  coloured  population. 


16 


neither  religion  nor  liberty  has  broken  down  the  barrier  between 
the  races.  The  most  enlightened  conviction  has  been  as  ineffica¬ 
cious  as  the  most  favoured  forms  of  political  condition  in  rescuing 
the  blacks  from  their  inferior  position. 

Further  still;  the  experiment  has  been  tried  with  increasing 
improbability  of  its  success.  The  mutual  prejudices  of  the  two 
races  are  greater  now  than  ever.  Our  Free  States,  in  forming  new 
constitutions  have  almost  unanimously  denied  to  the  coloured  popu¬ 
lation  the  political  privileges  granted  to  others.  The  new  States  of 
the  West  have  surpassed  the  older  ones  in  their  restrictions  and 
disabilities  ;  and  at  least  one  or  two  prohibit  residence  by  penal¬ 
ties.*  So  clearly  defined  has  the  question  now  become,  that  our 
National  Executive  Department,  which  is  no  doubt  in  sympathy 
with  our  National  Judiciary,  has  lately  decided  that  free  coloured 
persons  are  not  “  citizens  of  the  United  States.” f  The  feeling  of 
alienation  on  the  part  of  the  blacks  increases  with  all  these  oppres¬ 
sive  and  disparaging  manifestations.  Forming  a  distinct  class  in 
the  community,  they  have  a  separate  social  position ;  they  worship 
God  generally  in  churches  of  their  own,  called  African  churches  ; 
their  children  are  educated  in  African  schools  ;  and  provision  by 
law  and  custom  seems  to  be  made  for  the  perpetuation  of  these  dis¬ 
tinctions.  When  Slavery  shall  approach  its  final  crisis,  and  the  spirit 
of  insurrection  shall  sound  forth  its  cries  of  terror,  the  general  ex¬ 
asperation  on  both  sides  will  be  fiercely  augmented,  and  embittered 
beyond  all  previous  experience. 

In  this  aspect  of  affairs,  it  is  obvious  that  the  African  race  has 
no  encouragement  to  regard  the  United  States  as  a  permanent 
residence.  Providence  is  pointing  it  back  to  its  native  country,  as 
by  the  proclamation  of  a  king ;  not  in  despotic  wrath,  but  in  regal 
love.  All  things  will  be  overruled  for  its  good.J 


*  Indiana,  Iowa,  and  to  some  extent,  Ohio. 

f  See  the  late  letter  of  the  Honorable  William  L.  Marcy,  Secretary  of  State, 
in  which  he  declines  to  give  regular  passports  to  free  coloured  persons  travel¬ 
ling  abroad,  on  the  ground  that  they  are  not  citizens  in  the  proper  sense  of  that 
word. 

Whilst  these  sheets  are  passing  through  the  press  (1856),  the  news  has  arrived 
that  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  has  given  a  decision,  wherein  it  is 
announced  that  free  persons  of  African  descent  are  not  citizens  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  As  a  citizen  of  the  Republic,  the  writer  does  not  hesitate  to 
express  his  humiliation.  At  the  same  time,  he  has  no  doubt  that  this  decision, 
affecting  the  rights  and  interests  of  many,  will  be  overruled  for  good.  God  reigns. 
He  is  11  a  great  King  above  all  gods.” 

f  We  may  here  refer  to  an  able  and  interesting  letter  of  J.  H.  B.  Latrobe,  Esq., 
written  from  Newport,  in  August,  1851,  to  Thomas  Suffern,  Esq.  Mr.  Latrobe 
endeavours  to.  sustain  the  following  propositions  : 

1.  That  the  two  races  of  white  and  black  in  the  United  States  must  forever  re¬ 
main  separate  and  distinct,  while  they  continue  in  the  same  land — whether  all  the 
blacks  are  free,  or  only  a  portion  of  them. 

2.  That  the  necessary  consequence  of  this  state  of  things,  as  illustrated  by  the 
present,  and  in  accordance  with  all  history,  must  be  that  the  weaker  of  the  two 
races  must,  directly  or  indirectly,  be  oppressed,  the  extent  of  the  oppression  being 


IT 


3.  Another  of  the  signs  of  the  times  is,  that  no  other  races  are 
aiming  to  colonize  Africa.  By  common  consent,  the  continent  is 
given  up  to  the  conquest  of  its  own  race.  Excluding  the  small 
parts,  whose  occupation  for  military  or  commercial  purposes  has 
been  attempted  by  the  French,  English,  and  Portuguese,  Africa 
may  be  said  to  be  surrendered  to  its  own  descendants. 

A  writer,  under  the  striking  title  of  “  Trying  to  Create 
Nations,”  compares  the  English  Cape  Colony  with  that  of  the 
French  at  Algiers,  and  states  that  the  former  “has  now  been  occu¬ 
pied  fifty  years,  at  a  cost  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  or  thirty 
millions  of  dollars  for  governing  and  defending  it,  yet  the  whole 
population  at  this  day,  Hottentot,  free  Negro,  Dutch,  and  English, 
does  not  exceed  260,000  souls.  The  whole  of  the  appurtenant 
territory,  spread  over  not  less  than  130,000  square  miles,  serves 
no  other  object  beyond  providing  us  with  fresh  relays  of  CafFres  to 
fight.  It  will  not  take  our  convicts,  it  will  not  fight  its  own 
invaders,  and  it  cannot  induce  settlers  to  immigrate.  The  pet 
Colony  of  the  French,  at  Algiers,  presents  a  very  like  picture. 
Twenty-six  years  have  been  wasted,  and  in  a  province  of  ninety 
millions  of  acres,  three-fourths  as  large  as  France  itself,  the  Euro¬ 
pean  population  is  only  134,000,  and  has  to  be  protected  by  an 
army  of  100,000  men,  at  an  expense  of  some  twelve  million  dollars 
per  annum !” 

Man  cannot  create  nations.  The  inheritance  of  the  earth  is 
under  providential  control.  The  five  principal  currents  of  modern 

in  proportion  to  the  occasions  of  collision  between  the  two  in  competition  for  em¬ 
ployment. 

3.  That  another  necessary  consequence  of  this  state  of  things  is,  that  the  two 
races  must  separate — in  this  as  in  all  other  similar  cases — or,  in  other  words, 
there  must  be  a  Colonization,  to  be  carried  on  like  all  other  previous  Coloniza¬ 
tions — which  may  be  facilitated  by  aid  in  the  commencement,  but  which  must 
ultimately  be  a  self-paying  Colonization — the  emigrants  paying  their  own  ex¬ 
penses. 

4.  That  existing  circumstances  already  press  upon  the  free  coloured  man  the 
necessity  of  emigration,  and  that  he  is  beginning  to  appreciate  its  importance. 
That  these  circumstances,  growing  mainly  out  of  the  vast  increase  of  our  white 
population,  by  native  birth  and  foreign  immigration,  are  accumulating  beyond 
all  control,  and  will  ultimately  leave  the  free  coloured  man  no  alternative  but 
emigration. 

5.  That  Africa  is  the  place  for  'which  he  is  destined — and  that  the  colonies 
planted  there,  now  the  Republic  of  Liberia,  are  to  be  his  ultimate  home.  That 
in  Africa  alone  can  he  escape  the  white  man’s  power,  while  the  latter  will  be 
dependent  upon  him  for  the  missionary  and  commercial  agencies  here  refer¬ 
red  to. 

6.  That  while  the  present  means  for  emigration  may  be  supplied  by  individual 
or  other  aid,  yet  the  commerce  which  is  rapidly  growing  up  between  Africa  and 
this  country,  will,  in  a  brief  time — looking  to  the  ends  to  be  obtained — furnish 
facilities  for  the  same  emigration  from  America  to  Africa,  that  is  now  taking 
place  between  Europe  and  this  continent — an  emigration  which  would  soon  re¬ 
lieve  the  United  States  from  its  entire  free  coloured  population — and  towards 
which,  where  the  Irishman  or  German  has  one  motive  the  free  black  man  has 
ten. 


2 


18 


emigration  are,  (1),  from  Europe  to  America ;  (2),  from  the  East¬ 
ern  United  States  to  the  Western,  and  onward  to  the  Pacific; 
(8),  from  England  to  Australia ;  (4),  from  China  to  California ; 
(5),  from  the  United  States  to  Africa.  These  currents  are  more  or 
less  regular ;  and  in  spite  of  occasional  perturbations,  they  are 
likely  to  continue  their  sweeping  courses  in  the  vast  sea  of  human 
life.  The  current  towards  Africa  appears  to  become  stronger  year 
after  year,  and  to  be  unalterable  in  direction,  flowing  out  like  the 
great  Gulf-stream  between  two  hemispheres.  Where  is  the  race 
that  gives  any  signs  of  competition  with  the  Americo-African  ? 
What  other  people  on  the  globe  have  any  expectation  of  making 
large  and  permanent  settlements  in  Africa,  especially  in  the  com¬ 
paratively  unknown  western  and  central  regions  ?  Here  is  the 
great  African  reservation ,  set  apart  by  the  solemn  compact  of 
Providence  for  the  possession  of  the  coloured  population  taken  to 
America  centuries  ago.  They  alone,  of  all  nations,  are  looking  to 
Africa  as  a  field  of  genial  and  hopeful  colonization.  This  remark¬ 
able  incident  in  history  confirms  the  relation  between  our  coloured 
population  and  that  continent.  It  shows  how  God’s  plans  are 
unfolding.  Whilst,  with  one  hand,  He  beckons  the  children  of 
captivity  to  return  to  their  native  land,  with  the  other  he  warns 
away  the  intruders  of  other  nations.  He  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

4.  There  are  certain  peculiarities  of  adaptation  which  desig¬ 
nate  the  coloured  population  of  this  country  as  a  natural  and  fixed 
instrumentality  for  the  displays  of  Divine  goodness,  grace,  and 
glory  in  Africa. 

(1.)  An  adaptation  of  brotherhood  qualifies  the  African  popula¬ 
tion  of  this  country  to  promote  the  welfare  of  their  native  conti¬ 
nent.  The  great  mass  of  the  African  population  in  the  United 
States  are  separated  by  only  one,  two,  or  three  generations  from 
the  native  tribes  who  roam  between  the  Senegal,  the  Niger,  and 
the  Congo.  A  small  part  were  actually  born  in  Africa.  The  tra¬ 
ditions  of  a  foreign  extraction  are  clear  and  unquestioned  through¬ 
out  the  whole  four  millions.  The  land  of  their  forefathers  is  across 
the  waters.  This  community  of  origin,  which  admirably  adapts 
them  to  be  pioneers  among  their  kindred  in  missions  and  in  civili¬ 
zation,  will,  in  due  time,  exercise  its  sway. 

An  alienation  from  Africa,  as  a  place  of  residence  has,  indeed, 
existed  for  some  time,  especially  among  our  free  coloured  popula¬ 
tion.  This  has  been  owing  partly  to  the  impression  that  African 
Colonization  was  a  compulsory  measure,  or  one  which  originated  in 
worldly  policy  and  feelings  of  disaffection  in  the  minds  of  the  whites ; 
partly  from  the  notion  that  their  condition  was  better  here  than  in 
Africa ;  partly  from  old  habits  and  an  aversion  to  change  ;  and 
partly  from  exasperated  appeals  to  their  bad  passions  and  preju¬ 
dices.  These  causes  of  disaffection  will  be  all  ultimately  removed. 
God’s  plans  move  slowly  onward  until  the  crisis  of  advanced  action 


19 


arrives;  and  then,  as  lightning  from  one  part  under  heaven  answers 
to  that  of  the  other,  the  majesty  of  final  results  illuminates  the 
horizon  with  rapid  change. 

There  are  three  things  which  must  ever  retain  in  the  African 
mind  of  this  country,  a  remembrance  of  their  forefathers’  continent. 
One  of  these  is  natural  distinctive  colour.  God  has  made  a  mark 
upon  the  African  race  that  identifies  it  everywhere.  The  Jew  is 
known  in  all  lands  ;  much  more  the  African.  Without  referring 
again  to  the  prejudices  between  the  black  and  white  races,  I  simply 
remark  that  there  is  a  natural  congeniality  between  the  blacks  as 
blacks,  and  between  the  whites  as  whites — a  congeniality  that  will 
assert  its  claims  in  the  time  of  God’s  demand,  and  operate  to  pro¬ 
duce  sympathy  of  feeling  and  of  action  between  the  African  popu¬ 
lation  in  America  and  in  Africa. 

Another  cause  that  will  assist  in  developing  the  emotions  of  bro¬ 
therhood  between  these  two  classes  of  the  same  population  is  the 
dependence  of  the  one  upon  the  other.  The  native  Africans  have 
been  made  dependent  by  the  doom  of  Providence  upon  their 
brethren  in  America.  The  men  of  Congo  and  Angola  beckon  for 
help  over  the  waters,  with  an  earnestness  greater  than  Macedonian 
supplication.  Can  this  cry  be  long  unheeded,  especially  when  God 
opens  the  windows  of  heaven,  baptizes  the  people  with  new  unction, 
and  fills  them  with  the  constraining  love  of  Christ  ? 

Another  effectual  means  to  bind  the  two  classes  of  Africans  to¬ 
gether  is,  the  increasing  advantages  held  out  by  Africa  as  a  resi¬ 
dence.  Liberia  is  well  calculated  to  keep  the  African  mind  of  this 
country  in  an  expectant  and  interested  state.  As  the  young  re¬ 
public  continues  to  develope  its  career  of  prosperity  and  honour,  it 
will  form  a  bond  of  union  that  oceans  cannot  break. 

These  remarks  are  sufficient  to  show,  that  a  feeling  of  brother¬ 
hood  exists  by  nature  between  the  coloured  population  here  and  in 
Africa  ;  that  this  feeling  has  been  already  cultivated  in  Divine 
Providence,  and  will  gather  strength  in  the  natural  course  of 
events  ;  and  hence  that  there  is  an  adaptation  which  stimulates  the 
African  people  here,  to  identify  themselves  with  the  welfare  of 
their  brethren  in  the  native  land. 

(2.)  The  Africans  in  America  possess  the  adaptation  of  Christian 
character  and  advanced  knowledge.  Many  of  them  are  already 
qualified,  in  a  good  degree,  to  carry  the  arts  of  civilization  and  the 
ordinances  of  religion  to  the  country  of  their  ancestors.  Provi¬ 
dence  seems  to  have  been  waiting  until  they  were  ready  for  their 
work.  Each  generation  has  made  an  advance  upon  the  preceding 
one.  Plans  have  been  set  in  operation  for  their  evangelization 
and  general  improvement,  which  have  met  with  wonderful  success. 
So  that  there  is  an  increasing  adaptation  to  perform  their  mission 
of  elevating  their  “  kindred  according  to  the  flesh,”  as  well  as  of 
enjoying  for  themselves  the  blessings  of  liberty  in  a  land  of  glorious 
inheritance. 


20 


(3.)  There  is  also  an  adaptation  of  'physical  endurance.  The 
coloured  skin  can  better  bear  the  burning  sun  and  the  peculiarities 
of  the  African  climate.  It  is  true,  that  even  the  Africans,  who 
emigrate,  must  go  through  the  process  of  acclimation  ;  but  its 
dangers  are  far  less  with  them  than  with  the  whites.  The  records 
of  mortality  are  quite  fearful  among  the  white  missionaries  who 
have  gone  to  Africa.  “  Out  of  117  missionaries  sent  out  by  the 
Wesleyan  Missionary  Society ,  during  forty  years,  from  1811  to 
1850,  no  less  than  54  died  on  the  field,  39  of  them  within  one  year 
after  their  arrival  ;  and  of  those  who  survived,  13  were  obliged  to 
return  after  a  residence  of  from  six  to  twenty-one  months.  During 
thirty  years,  from  1806  to  1835,  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
of  London  sent  out  109  missionaries,  more  than  50  of  whom  died 
at  their  stations,  3  or  4  on  their  passage  home  ;  14  returned  home 
with  impaired  constitutions,  and  in  1835,  only  3  labourers  remained. 
About  30  of  these  50  died  in  one  year  after  their  arrival.  Such 
is  the  general  record  of  white  effort  in  Africa.  Latterly  it  has  not 
been  so  terribly  distressing  ;  but  even  now  the  martyrs  to  the 
climate  live,  on  an  average,  only  four  years ;  while  comparatively 
nothing  was  effected  till  colonies  of  African  origin  were  planted 
on  the  seaboard,  and  the  colonial  and  the  missionary  work  was 
combined.” 

I  have  read  with  care  the  argument  in  favour  of  continuing  to 
send  out  white  missionaries  to  Africa,  which  is  to  be  found  in  the 
admirable  volume  on  Africa,  written  by  my  friend  and  brother,  the 
Rev.  John  Leighton  Wilson,  D.D.  I  agree  with  his  conclu¬ 
sions  ;  but  their  main  strength  consists  in  the  fact  that  competent 
coloured  missionaries  have  not  yet  been  obtained.  One  of  the 
objects  of  the  Ashmun  Institute  is  to  supply  missionaries  capable 
of  doing  the  work  of  the  Church  in  the  torrid  zone  and  on  Africa’s 
shores.  It  is  certain  that  the  superior  capability  of  the  African 
race  for  physical  endurance  in  the  climate  of  Africa,  constitutes 
an  adaptation,  on  the  part  of  our  coloured  population,  to  co-operate 
in  blessing  the  African  continent,  to  the  glory  of  the  riches  of 
God’s  grace  in  Jesus  Christ. 

(4.)  The  Africans  in  this  country  have  an  adaptation  of  indus¬ 
trial  training.  The  great  products  of  cotton,  tobacco,  corn,  wheat, 
rice,  and  sugar,  which  they  have  been  accustomed  to  cultivate,  can 
all  be  grown  upon  the  soil  of  Liberia.  The  skill  acquired  in  this 
country  will  have  a  ready  demand,  and  can  be  immediately  put  to 
profitable  employment  in  the  new  location.  Thus  Africa,  long 
a  neglected  waste,  may  be  made  to  abound  in  the  richest  harvests 
of  agriculture,  and  in  the  teeming  resources  of  newly  applied  and 
active  industry.  Nations  are  waiting  for  the  development  of 
its  trade  and  commerce.  The  native  tribes  need  the  stimulus  of 
industrial  example  and  success  ;  and  of  all  people  suited  to  take 
the  lead  in  this  work,  our  own  coloured  population  is  the  best  trained 
and  the  most  competent. 


21 


(5.)  There  is  an  adaptation  of  mutual  advantage  to  the  two 
classes  of  the  African  race.  The  advantage  to  Africa  itself  in 
having  civilization  brought  within  its  borders  by  means  of  Chris¬ 
tian  colonies,  is  incalculable.  Providence  has  searched  profoundest 
depths  of  wisdom  to  bring  to  pass  this  consummation.  Ethiopia’s 
heart  will  bless  the  King  of  nations  for  the  mighty  methods  and 
results  of  Christian  civilization,  that  are  soon  to  extend  along  her 
coasts  and  to  penetrate  her  vast  domains.  Scarcely  less  obvious 
is  the  advantage  to  our  own  coloured  population,  in  becoming  emi¬ 
grants  to  the  land  of  their  forefathers.  Few  inducements  are  offered 
here  for  their  advancement  in  the  higher  pursuits  of  life,  and  for 
the  attainment  of  the  objects  of  a  laudable  ambition.  With  all  the 
disadvantages  of  their  position,  it  is  remarkahle  that  the  upward 
pressure  of  the  race  has  been  so  strong  and  persevering.  The 
struggle  is  adventurous,  but  vain.  Providence  has  better  ends. 
The  highest  capabilities  of  the  African  are  not  to  be  witnessed 
here.  Liberia  is  demonstrating  the  advantages  of  a  fresh  position, 
and  of  independent,  vigorous,  self-managed  institutions.  Our  free 
coloured  population  sympathizes  more  than  ever  with  the  objects 
and  prospects  of  African  Colonization ;  and  the  time  is  coming 
when  no  earthly  power  can  prevent  the  best  portion  from  emigrat¬ 
ing  back  to  the  great  ancestral  continent. 

“An  ignorance  of  means  may  minister 
To  greatness  ;  but  an  ignorance  of  aims 
Makes  it  impossible  to  be  great  at  all. 

I  tell  you  rather,  that  whoever  may 

Discern  true  ends  here,  shall  grow  pure  enough 

To  love  them,  brave  enough  to  strive  for  them, 

And  strong  to  reach  them,  though  the  road  be  rough.” 

These  various  adaptations  indicate  that  the  plan  of  blessing 
Africa  by  means  of  the  race  in  this  country  will  be  a  permanent 
one,  and  that  a  reunion  on  their  own  continent  will  afford  the 
brightest  displays  of  Divine  goodness  towards  this  long-afflicted 
and  disparaged  people.  In  Africa  shall  God  be  glorified,  with 
hosannahs  from  every  land.  There,  the  mysteries  of  Providence 
shall  be  .vindicated ;  and  then,  new  revelations  of  mercy  be  made 
known. 

5.  The  common  conviction  of  the  Christian  Church  may 
be  added  as  additional  confirmation  of  the  providential  relation 
between  our  coloured  population  and  Africa. 

This  conviction  arose  early.  In  1773,  an  Address,  proposing 
the  formation  of  an  African  Missionary  Society  to  educate  and 
send  out  coloured  missionaries  to  Africa,  was  published,  with  the 
signatures  of  Ezra  Stiles,  afterwards  President  of  Yale  College, 
and  Samuel  Hopkins,  both  Congregational  pastors  at  Newport, 


22 


R.  I.*  The  British  philanthropists,  Granville  Sharp,  Wilberforce, 
and  others,  probably  deriving  the  suggestion  from  this  appeal,  de¬ 
vised  a  plan,  in  1T8T,  of  settling  at  Sierra  Leone  a  company  of 
slaves  who  had  deserted  to  the  British  army  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  who  accompanied  the  British  troops  on  their  return  to 
England.  The  success  at  Sierra  Leone  hastened  the  establishment 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society.  The  same  arguments  that 
are  now  used  for  the  prosecution  of  African  colonization,  were  ad¬ 
vanced  by  American  and  British  Christians  nearly  a  century  ago. 
The  strifes  of  modern  times  had  no  share  in  originating  this  great 
scheme.  God  early  enlisted  in  its  behalf  the  minds  and  hearts  of 
the  wisq  and  good,  and  arranged  a  place  for  it  in  the  affections  of 
coming  generations. 

The  confidence  of  Christians  in  African  colonization  is  universal. 
It  is  not  limited  to  sect ;  it  belongs  to  the  larger  idea  of  Christianity, 
and  pervades  all  branches  of  the  Church.  And  it  is  strong  as  well 
as  universal.  Opposition  to  the  emigration  of  the  coloured  popu¬ 
lation  to  Africa  has  been  made  in  vain  by  fanaticism  and  infidelity. 
The  appliances  of  ambitious,  restless,  energetic  agitation  never 
ended  in  a  more  complete  failure  than  in  the  attempt  to  place  the 
Church  in  a  hostile  attitude  to  this  great  African  scheme.  The 
strength  of  Christian  conviction  in  its  favour  is  a  “  token  of  perdi¬ 
tion”  to  the  efforts  of  its  adversaries,  and  a  “  sign  from  heaven” 
to  its  friends.  All  Christian  denominations  have  solemnly  placed 
upon  their  official  records  their  strong  expectation,  under  God,  of 
great  blessings  to  Africa  from  its  colonization  by  its  descendants. f 

The  'prayers  and  efforts  of  Christians  have  followed  their  con¬ 
victions,  and  are  the  expression  of  their  sincerity.  God  is  not 
accustomed  to  abandon  his  Church  to  delusion  and  error,  and  to 

*  Two  young  Africans  were  sent  by  Dr.  Hopkins  to  Princeton  College,  to  be 
educated  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Witherspoon  5  but  the  Revolutionary  War 
interrupted  this  scheme  of  benevolence,  and  one  of  the  young  men  died  early.  Dr. 
Hopkins  afterwards  revived  the  scheme  and  published  an  able  address.  Two  other 
pupils  afterwards  went  to  Sierra  Leone. 

f  The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  is  believed  to  be  the  first 
ecclesiastical  body  that  took  action  in  favour  of  the  objects  and  principles  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society.  Its  first  action  was  in  May,  1817,  a  few  months 
after  the  formation  of  the  Society.  Since  that  time,  it  has  repeatedlyexpressed 
itself  in  favour  of  African  colonization. 

I  may  here  add,  that  the  founder  of  the  American  Colonization  Society  was  Dr. 
Robert  Finley,  one  of  our  own  ministers.  Francis  S.  Key,  Esq.,  of  George¬ 
town,  who  was  intimately  acquainted  with  the  whole  movement,  said,  in  a  public 
address,  in  1842,  u  From  its  origin,  when  first  proposed  by  the  venerated  Finley , 
to  the  present  time,  in  its  darkest  day,  I  have  never  doubted.”  (Kennedy’s  Report , 
•  page  65.) 

Dr.  Finley,  on  his  way  to  Washington,  stopped  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  where  he 
called  a  meeting  to  consider  the  subject.  The  Professors  of  the  College  and 
Theological  Seminary  attended,  and  the  venerable  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander 
addressed  the  people  in  favour  of  the  scheme.  Dr.Alexander  says,  in  his  History, 
u  The  first  public  meeting,  which  ever  took  place  to  consider  the  subject  of  African 
colonization  in  this  country,  was  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  borough 
of  Princeton.” 


/ 


23 


give  to  its  worship  and  philanthropy  a  false  direction.  The  early, 
long-continued,  universal,  prayerful,  practical  conviction  of  the 
Church,  may  be  regarded  as  interpreting  the  Divine  will  on  this 
subject  more  clearly  than  any  oracle  on  earth. 

Grouping  together,  then,  the  five  varieties  of  proof  here  pre¬ 
sented,  their  collective  force  is  apparently  sufficient  to  establish 
an  African  direction  in  God’s  wonderful  providences.  The  destiny 
of  Africa  seems  to  be  linked  by  a  Divine  concatenation,  with  the 
intellect  and  heart  of  the  coloured  population  in  this  country. 

The  execution  of  the  providential  plan  is  for  the  elevation  OF 
Africa.  The  “ signs  of  the  times,”  which  flash  across  the  firma¬ 
ment,  are  bright  as  the  prophetic  evening’s  enkindled  sky.  “When 
it  is  evening,  ye  say,  It  will  be  fair  weather,  for  the  sky  is  red.” 
Fair  weather  to  Africa’s  tempest-tossed  shores  !  Fair  weather  to 
her  sky  long  clouded  and  lowering !  “  The  night  is  far  spent ; 

the  day  is  at  hand.”  Her  sun  is  rising  in  its  greatness  !  God  will 
be  GLORIFIED  BY  AFRICA. 

god’s  GOODNESS,  GRACE,  AND  GLORY  IN  AFRICA. 

lit  The  destiny  of  Africa  will  receive  a  new  develop¬ 
ment  BY  THE  EXECUTION  OF  THE  PROVIDENTIAL  PLAN  ;  and  great 
displays  of  God’s  goodness,  grace,  and  glory  will  be  made  on  the 
shores  of  that  long-afflicted  continent. 

All  the  antecedent  'probabilities  favour  the  expectation  of  great 
blessings  to  Africa  from  the  scheme  of  African  Colonization.  Some 
of  the  grandest  providences  in  the  history  of  the  world  have  con¬ 
tributed  to  the  unfolding  of  the  plan  in  its  present  hopeful  aspects. 
What  conjunctures  of  events ;  what  moral,  political,  and  physical 
adaptations ;  what  progressive,  and  yet  tardy  movements  in  society ; 
what  combinations  of  various  and  apparently  discordant  elements, 
must  be  established  and  made  ready  for  co-operation,  before  a  high 
purpose  can  emerge  into  organized  activity  !  The  providential  pre¬ 
paration,  however,  is  the  argument  and  the  assurance  of  eventual 
triumph.  The  patriarch’s  departure  from  Mesopotamia,  the  bond¬ 
age  of  Egypt,  and  the  Exodus  with  miracles,  rendered  certain  at 
last,  the  conquest  of  Canaan.  Every  step  in  the  majestic  pathway 
of  means  for  the  elevation  of  the  African  race,  shows  the  sure  direc¬ 
tion  and  the  final  end  of  the  divine  purposes.  All  the  providences 
that  have  pressed  forward  African  Colonization  to  the  prominence 
of  one  of  the  greatest  social  and  political  movements  of  the  age, 
prefigure  future  benefits,  on  a  great  scale,  to  the  black  man’s  conti¬ 
nent.  The  fallow  ground  of  Africa  has  been  broken  up ;  the  seeds 
of  empires  have  been  sown;  and  the  handful  of  corn,  in  the  com¬ 
ing  harvest,  shall  shake  like  Lebanon.  The  purposes  of  God,  long 
ripening,  come  to  maturity  at  last, 


24 


u  And  freshening  upward  to  his  feet 
In  gradual  growth,  his  full-leaved  will 
Expands  from  world  to  world.” 

African  Colonization  has,  indeed,  had  its  “  day  of  small  things.” 
It  has  received  reproach  and  bitter  opposition,  even  from  those 
whose  good  was  sought, — like  the  expedition  from  Egypt  to  Canaan, 
which  encountered  its  severest  trials  from  Israelitish  perverseness. 
But  African  Colonization  has  the  armorial  bearings  of  its  King.  It 
is  an  undertaking  that  unfolds  from  its  banner  remarkable  signs  of 
greatness.  It  has  far-reaching  contemplations  of  God  and  man. 
It  originates  a  new  and  higher  order  of  thought  concerning  the 
destiny  of  a  despised  and  downtrodden  race.  It  seeks  to  found 
new  empires,  to  carry  the  blessings  of  religion  to  a  fourth  part  of 
the  habitable  globe,  and  to  create  throughout  Christendom  a  public 
sentiment  that  shall  re-establish  the  brotherhood  of  Shem,  Ham, 
and  Japheth.  All  the  antecedent  probabilities,  growing  out  of  an 
origin  and  a  support  in  divine  Providence,  announce  the  success 
of  African  Colonization.  God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

2.  The  scheme  of  African  Colonization  contains  elements  of 
power,  which  place  it  in  a  commanding  position  in  reference  to 
present  prosperity  and  future  greatness. 

The  republican  form  of  government ,  in  Liberia,  is  the  model 
form  for  Africa.  The  petty  and  local  independencies,  which  con¬ 
stitute  the  prevalent  system  of  government,  are  utterly  inconsistent 
with  social  and  public  improvement.  Nor  would  the  wants  of 
Africa  be  met  by  the  rise  of  great  monarchies,  or  of  a  vaster  auto¬ 
cracy  like  that  of  Russia.  An  important  requisite  for  the  future 
of  nations,  is  a  type  of  government  that  shall  draw  forth  the  spirit 
of  the  people,  stimulate  industry  in  agriculture  and  the  arts,  and 
establish  public  prosperity  upon  a  sure  foundation.  The  Republic 
of  Liberia  undertakes  this  mission  for  Africa.  It  stands  upon  its 
oppressed  shores,  like  the  gateway  to  the  temple  of  its  Liberty. 
The  outward  form  of  civilization  which  is  to  spread  throughout 
those  vast  realms,  will  influence  the  destiny  of  generations.  Human 
improvement  would  have  been  reversed  for  centuries,  if  Asiatic 
civilization  had  impressed  its  despotism  upon  the  rising  States  of 
Europe,  by  the  unchecked  conquests  of  the  Medo-Persian  empire. 
It  was  Athens,  standing  firm  at  the  Thermopylae  of  European 
liberty,  that  preserved  for  the  East  the  more  genial  forms  of  Gre¬ 
cian  and  Roman  republicanism.  Liberty  is  not  a  vain  idea.  There  is 

11 A  serious,  sacred  meaning  and  full  use 
Of  freedom  for  a  nation.” 

Liberia  will  model,  until  the  end  of  time,  the  political  institu¬ 
tions  of  the  continent  it  aims  to  bless.  What  liberty  has  been,  and 
is,  to  America,  it  is  and  will  be  to  Africa.  Ethiopian  as  well  as 


25 


Anglo-Saxon  intellect  needs,  and  must  have,  the  glowing  culture  of 
free  institutions. 

With  the  institutions  of  freedom,  knowledge  advances  into  Li¬ 
beria.  The  Ethiopian  world  must  be  enlightened.  Ignorance  is 
adjusted  to  despotism  by  laws  which  make  knowledge  congenial  to 
a  republic.  The  debasement  of  Africa  must  be  rolled  away.  Uni¬ 
versal  education  must  be  carried  up  her  mighty  streams,  across  her 
arid  deserts,  beyond  her  ridges  of  mountains,  throughout  her  plains 
and  prairies,  along  her  vast  lines  of  latitude  and  longitude  north 
and  south  to  either  sea,  and  east  and  west  to  every  shore.  The 
institutions  of  learning,  which  exist  in  Liberia,  are  resources  of 
human  elevation.  Schools,  academies,  and  colleges  will  be  to 
African  mind,  like  the  irrigations  of  the  Nile  to  its  valley,  like  the 
sea-breeze  to  the  fevered  coast,  like  morning  light  to  unbroken 
darkness. 

The  Protestant  religion  is  an  element  of  power  among  the  re¬ 
sources  of  African  Colonization.  Religion  is  offered  by  Liberia  to 
the  surrounding  nations  as  the  richest  blessing  from  heaven.  The 
Papal  hierarchy  has  already  made  its  experiment  in  Western  Africa. 
In  former  years,  the  Roman  Church  held  extensive  sway  in  Congo, 
Angola,  and  along  the  western  coast;  but  every  vestige  of  its  pomp 
and  power  has  disappeared.  The  transmission  of  Roman  Catholic 
faith  and  politics  into  the  civilization  of  this  expanding  continent 
would  be  a  calamity  to  the  world.  Liberia  is  Protestant  in  thought, 
heart,  and  life.  Its  emigrants  have  learned  religion  in  a  land  of 
Bibles.  Their  simple  faith  welcomes  a  Saviour.  They  possess 
the  creed  of  the  apostles  and  martyrs.  Ethiopia  has  never  been, 
is  not,  will  not  be, 

u  A  bondsman  shivering  at  a  Jesuit’s  foot,” 

but  she  stands  erect  in  the  liberty  of  Redemption,  stretching  forth 
her  hands  unto  God.  The  religion  of  the  Reformation  is  Africa’s 
hope.  God  is  opening  the  way  for  the  evangelization  of  her  mil¬ 
lions,  by  the  return  of  her  own  kindred  with  blessings  of  life  and 
immortality.  In  the  enjoyment  of  the  pure  and  glorious  Gospel  of 
the  Son  of  man,  Africa  will  assume  her  true  rank  among  the  con¬ 
tinents  of  the  world. 

The  Anglo-Saxon  tongue  is  carried  into  Africa  with  freedom, 
knowledge,  and  religion.  Among  the  certainties  of  language  is  its 
power  in  the  formation  of  national  character ;  its  bond  of  union 
among  all  who  use  the  same  forms  of  speech  ;  the  influence  of  its 
published  literature  in  extending  and  perpetuating  opinions  ;  and 
its  general  capability  in  developing  the  religion  and  civilization  of 
the  world.  The  providential  origin  of  the  diversities  of  human 
language,  and  the  use  which  God  has  made  of  particular  forms, 
especially  the  Hebrew  and  Greek,  suggest  the  great  importance  of 
the  subject  in  its  evangelistic  relations.  The  Anglo-Saxon  is  pro- 


26 


eminently  the  language  of  freedom,  civilization,  and  Christianity.* 
It  is  extending  itself  beyond  every  other  variety  of  spoken  or 
written  language.  It  has  entered  upon  new  conquests  in  Africa. 
The  citizens  of  Liberia  enjoy  its  benefits. 

u  They  speak  the  tongue 

That  Shakspeare  spake ;  the  faith  and  morals  hold 
Which  Milton  held.” 

A  blight  would  have  fallen  upon  African  civilization,  if  the  dia¬ 
lect  of  Spain,  France,  or  Italy  had  been  incorporated  into  the  Libe¬ 
rian  commonwealth.  The  Anglo-Saxon  tongue  is  the  representative 
tongue  of  Liberty  and  Religion.  It  is  a  tower  of  strength,  whose 
top,  unfrowned  upon  by  the  Holy  One,  goes  up  towards  heaven. 
Liberia  thrives  in  its  light.  Africa  shall  advance  on  her  career 
with  its  illuminations  ;  and  Anglo-Saxon  speech  and  literature  shall 
enhance  the  blessings  which  Freedom,  Knowledge,  and  Religion 
convey  throughout  the  vast  realms  of  the  rejoicing  continent. 

These  four  elements  of  political  and  moral  prosperity  place  the 
Republic  of  Liberia  on  high  vantage-ground  as  a  nation.  Liberia 
possesses  resources  of  power.  Her  prospects  of  realizing  a  vigor¬ 
ous  and  permanent  progress,  by  the  favour  of  Heaven,  are  far  more 
promising  than  those  of  many  nations,  now  her  superiors  in  political 
position.  Her  stability  is  on  a  firmer  foundation  than  that  of 
France,  Italy,  or  Austria.  Changes  and  reverses  may,  indeed,  take 
place.  Clouds  may  gather  in  her  sky,  but  beyond  them  shines  un¬ 
quenched  light.  A  nation’s  strength  consists  in  its  reverence  for 
the  laws  of  God,  in  its  acknowledgment  of  the  rights  of  man,  and 
in  its  appliances  to  enlighten  the  public  conscience,  invigorate  the 
industry  of  its  citizens,  and  train  up  its  generations  to  serve  God 
throughout  the  earth.  Liberia  possesses  these  resources,  which  are 
competent,  with  the  Divine  blessing,  to  establish  it  on  a  sure  foun¬ 
dation.  He  who  has  given  to  it  freedom,  knowledge,  religion,  and 
the  English  tongue,  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

3.  The  History  of  Liberia  inspires  hope,  not  only  in  the 
success  of  its  own  institutions,  but  in  the  importance  of  coloniza¬ 
tion  as  an  instrumentality  for  the  civilization  of  Africa. 

The  Colony,  formed  under  many  disadvantages,  has  risen  steadily 
to  its  present  high  condition.  Recaptured  Africans,  and  slaves 
indiscriminately  emancipated,  were  its  first  citizens.  Its  greatest 
trial  has  been  the  impracticability  of  selecting  emigrants  with 
special  reference  to  the  greatness  of  the  work.  The  aggregate 
character  of  the  emigrants  sent  out  to  Liberia,  has  scarcely  equalled 

*  An  able,  original,  and  instructive  Discourse  on  the  Anglo-Saxon  tongue  was 
delivered  by  tlie  Rev.  James  W.  Alexander,  D.D.,  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  1856, 
in  his  own  church,  in  New  York.  It  was  published  in  the  New  York  Observer , 
and  was  republished  in  the  June  number  of  the  Presbyterian  Magazine ,  1857. 


27 


the  average  worth  and  respectability  of  the  coloured  population  of 
the  United  States.  The  original  condition  of  Liberia,  in  this  re¬ 
spect,  is  very  different  from  that  of  the  Pilgrim  Colonies,  whose 
materials  were  “  the  siftings  of  three  kingdoms.”  Yet  these  poor 
and  honest  African  emigrants  showed,  in  the  depths  of  their  de¬ 
gradation,  no  ordinary  traits  of  manhood.  In  the  language  of  Dr. 
Alexander,  “I  cannot  but  admire  the  honest  ambition  and  the  noble 
daring  of  the  first  emigrants  from  this  country  to  Africa.  Then,  no 
Liberia  existed.  The  Society  did  not  own  one  foot  of  ground  on 
that  continent,  and  it  was  extremely  doubtful  whether  they  would 
be  able  to  obtain  any  territory  for  a  colony.  Yet,  these  lion-hearted 
men  resolved  to  run  every  risk ;  they  took,  as  it  were,  their  lives 
in  their  hands.  They  went  out,  like  Abraham,  not  knowing  whither 
they  went.  And  the  event  has  proved  that  they  were  called  by  the 
Providence  of  God  to  engage  in  this  hazardous  undertaking.”* 

The  progress  of  Liberia  has  surpassed  that  of  other  colonies, 
more  favoured  at  the  beginning.  The  settlement  of  America  from 
Canada  to  Brazil  cannot  produce  examples  of  greater  success  than 
colonization  on  the  Western  coast  of  Africa,  between  the  Senegal 
and  the  Niger.  The  Anglo-Saxon  movement  of  Jamestown  lacked 
the  spirit  of  a  great  moral  enterprise,  and  failed,  for  a  long  time, 
to  gain  a  foothold  upon  the  soil  of  the  Cavaliers,  from  whence  their 
slaves’  descendants  have  emigrated  with  overshadowing  favour. 
The  Pilgrims  of  Plymouth  Bock  encountered  many  stern  obstacles 
and  difficulties ;  nor  did  they,  for  a  series  of  years,  bring  forth  re¬ 
sults  of  colonization  equalling  the  first-fruits  of  African  toil  and 
industry.  The  establishment  of  Liberia  is  a  triumph  in  history. 
The  children  of  Ham  lift  up  the  banner  above  the  heads  of  Shem 
and  Japheth. 

The  location  of  Liberia  is  favourable  to  all  the  objects  of  its 
growth  as  a  nation.  It  is  the  nearest  point  to  America  on  the 
coast,  and  the  navigation  is  a  safe  one.  “  Of  the  one  hundred  and 
thirty  voyages,  which  have  been  made  direct  to  Liberia  by  vessels 
in  the  service  of  the  Colonization  Society,  since  1820,  all  have  been 
made  safely,  without  having  to  make  a  single  claim  on  the  insur¬ 
ance  companies  for  damages.  This  proves  a  safe  navigation  be¬ 
tween  the  United  States  and  Liberia. ”f  Considered  in  reference 
to  Africa ,  the  location  of  the  Colony  is  also  auspicious.  It  has  the 
command  of  the  Slave  Coast ;  it  is  adjacent  to  influential  tribes  ; 
it  is  only  a  few  degrees  from  the  sources  and  the  mouths  of  the 
Niger  ;  and  is  capable  of  holding  ready  communication  with  Tim- 
buctoo,  one  of  the  capitals  of  Central  Africa,  with  which  city  a 
railroad  may  connect  it  at  no  distant  day.  As  regards  Europe  and 
Asia ,  the  situation  on  the  coast  is  quite  favourable.  The  Bepublic 
stands  on  the  highway  of  nations.  The  commerce  of  India,  China, 
and  Australia,  passes  its  domain.  Moreover,  Liberia  is  sufficiently 


*  History  of  Colonization,  p.  20. 


f  Colonization  Herald,  Philadelphia. 


near  to  England  and  America  for  the  purposes  of  trade,  and  suf¬ 
ficiently  remote  from  other  nations  to  diminish  the  danger  of  un¬ 
timely  foreign  interference.  Nature,  indeed,  has  not  provided  for 
it  every  advantage,  especially  in  climate  and  harbours ;  but  it 
combines  as  many  substantial  advantages  as  the  western  coast  of 
Africa  can  afford. 

A  brief  view  of  the  actual  results  of  African  Colonization  is  es¬ 
sential  to  the  elucidation  of  our  subject.  What,  then,  has  been 
accomplished  that  forebodes  great  good,  in  the  future,  to  the  African 
race  ? 

(1.)  Liberia  has  provided  a  home  for  the  coloured  population  of 
the  United  States.  About  ten  thousand  have  already  emigrated; 
all  of  whom  have  exchanged  an  inferior  condition  of  society  for  one 
of  independence  and  dignity.  The  total  number  of  emigrants,  up 
to  January  1st,  1857,  was  8954.  Of  this  number,  8676  were  born 
free ;  and  the  remainder  in  slavery. 

Liberia  is  a  rallying  point  of  hope  for  our  African  popula¬ 
tion  in  all  the  emergencies  of  their  condition.  Comparatively  few 
of  the  free  coloured  people  have,  as  yet,  had  the  enterprise  to  be¬ 
come  citizens  of  the  African  Republic.  Only  698  of  their  number 
have  emigrated  from  the  Free  States.  Every  year,  however,  is 
adding  to  the  attractions  of  Liberia,  and  diminishing  the  desirable¬ 
ness  of  residence  in  America.  Providence  will  bring  to  pass  its 
plans  of  emigration.  Soon  large  numbers  of  our  free-coloured 
population  will  set  out  on  their  long-delayed  journey,  thanking  God 
for  the  African  Republic  whose  flag  of  liberty  waves  over  the  land 
of  the  free. 

(2.)  Colonization  has  established  a  flourishing  African  govern¬ 
ment  on  the  basis  of  popular  elections,  a  republican  administration, 
and  judicial  tribunals  recognizing  the  right  of  trial  by  jury.  This 
government  has  already  gained  much  favour  with  civilized  nations. 
Its  independence  has  been  acknowledged  by  Great  Britain,  France, 
Prussia,  Belgium,  Brazil,  and  soon,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  by  the  Uni¬ 
ted  States ;  and  it  has  treaties  of  amity  and  commerce  with  Eng¬ 
land,  France,  and  the  Hanseatic  States  of  Hamburg,  Lubec,  and 
Bremen. 

The  religious  and  educational  statistics  of  Liberia  compare  ad¬ 
vantageously  with  those  of  any  other  nation.  The  total  number 
of  church  members  is  not  far  from  4000 ;  of  whom  about  1000  are 
natives,  or  recaptured  Africans.  There  are  35  churches,  com¬ 
posed  of  Methodists,  Baptists,  Presbyterians,  Episcopalians,  and 
Friends.  The  number  of  ministers  and  missionaries  is  about  60, 
of  whom  7  are  whites. 

The  number  of  scholars  exceed  800  in  40  schools  :  of  which  the 
most  important  are  the  White  Plains  Methodist  School,  on  the  St. 
Paul’s  River;  the  Alexander  High  School,  at  Monrovia;  the  Epis¬ 
copal  Mission  School,  at  Cape  Palmas ;  and  a  private  female 
academy,  at  Monrovia.  The  materials  of  a  large  college  building 


29 


have  recently  been  despatched  from  this  country,  at  a  cost  of 
$18,000.  The  college  is  to  be  located  on  the  St.  Paul’s  River, 
near  Monrovia ;  and  ex-President  Roberts  has  accepted  the  presi¬ 
dency  of  the  institution. 

The  number  of  settlements  in  Liberia  is  twenty-five.  The  re¬ 
public  is  divided  into  three  counties  ;  and  additions  are  being  made 
to  its  territory  from  time  to  time.* 

Such  a  republic  is  accomplishing,  by  its  very  existence  and 
prosperity,  unspeakable  benefits  for  the  whole  race.  God  has 
planted  it  on  African  shores  for  the  present  and  future  advantage 
of  bond  and  free,  of  American  born  and  African  born,  descendants 
of  Ham. 

(3.)  Liberia  is  a  centre  of  trade  and  commerce  in  Africa.  The 
continent  has  materials  of  a  large  commerce  on  the  Mediterranean, 
on  the  eastern  coast  from  the  Red  Sea  to  Port  Natal,  and  on  the 
western  coast.  Liberia  is  developing  its  proportions  of  West 
African  trade.  In  1855,  more  than  thirty  vessels  were  freighted 
with  palm-oil  alone,  at  her  ports.  The  value  of  her  imports  and 
exports  is  about  $2,000,000  annually.  So  extensive  and  impor¬ 
tant  is  the  commerce  of  Western  Africa,  that  a  company  in  Eng¬ 
land  is  constructing  six  steamers  for  regular  communication  with 
the  coast,  and  a  number  of  smaller  steamers  to  run  up  the  rivers. 
The  subject  of  African  commerce  is  engaging  more  and  more  the 
attention  of  our  own  merchants ;  and  the  power  of  Liberia  will 
soon  be  felt  in  the  commercial  world. 

But  it  is  in  its  moral  relations  that  the  commerce  of  Africa  as¬ 
sumes  its  chief  importance.  The  civilization  of  the  world  is  car¬ 
ried  forward  by  the  intercourse  of  nations  ;  and  the  Gospel  uses 
civilization  as  one  of  the  conditions  of  its  own  permanent  exten¬ 
sion.  Religion  and  commerce  are  thus  mutual  allies  ;  and  the  in¬ 
creasing  trade  of  Liberia  and  of  the  surrounding  nations  is  among 
the  best  signs  of  the  colonization  enterprise. 

(4.)  Liberia  has  acquired  influence  over,  and  given  protection 
to,  250,000  of  the  natives,  who  reside  within  the  bounds  of  the 
commonwealth,  and  who  are  gradually  adopting  the  forms  of  civi¬ 
lized  life.  In  Section  XIII  of  the  Constitution  of  Liberia,  it  is 
declared  that  “  the  improvement  of  the  natives,  and  their  advance¬ 
ment  in  the  arts  of  agriculture  and  husbandry,  is  a  cherished  ob¬ 
ject  of  this  government.”  President  Benson,  in  his  inaugural 
message,  thus  alludes  to  the  native  tribes  :  “  In  regard  to  this  peo¬ 
ple,  we  have  the  highest  human  trust  committed  to  our  hands.  Let 
us  not  be  unfaithful.  Providence,  I  doubt  not,  has  chosen  us  not 
only  as  the  pioneers  of  better  days  to  our  unfortunate  race  in  the 

*  These  religious  and  educational  statistics  are  taken,  almost  verbatim,  from  a 
letter,  written  by  Mr.  William  Coppinger,  the  intelligent  and  worthy  Treasurer 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Colonization  Society,  to  whom  application  was  made  for  the 
information  given. 


30 


scale  of  nationality,  but  also  as  his  instruments  in  effecting  the 
great  work  of  Africa’s  redemption.” 

Perfection  cannot  be  expected  of  Liberia  in  its  intercourse  with 
the  surrounding  tribes.  Every  civilized  nation  contains  evil-dis¬ 
posed  and  wicked  citizens  ;  and  religion  does  not  always  control 
the  public  administration  of  affairs.  Jealousies  and  contentions 
may  arise  at  intervals  between  the  colonists  and  the  natives  ;  but 
the  community  of  origin  must,  with  the  advance  of  civilization  and 
the  progress  of  the  new  African  States,  ultimately  blend  together 
the  entire  African  population. 

(5.)  A  large  extent  of  sea-coast,  at  least  500  miles  in  length, 
has  been  delivered  from  the  horrors  of  the  slave  trade,  by  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  the  Liberian  settlements.  The  indescribable  agonies 
inflicted  upon  the  seaward  and  the  interior  tribes  by  this  infa¬ 
mous  trafic,  are  in  a  great  measure  ended.  African  Colonization 
is  the  best  permanent  remedy,  however  essential  for  a  time  has 
been  the  presence  of  ships  of  war.  The  total  extent  of  coast 
rescued  from  this  horrid  trade  by  colonies,  missionary  stations,  and 
naval  armaments,  is  2500  miles.  “  Canot,  the  famous  Portuguese 
slaver,  who  ought  to  know,  affirms  in  his  memoir,  that  Liberia  has 
exerted  an  immense  influence  in  the  suppression  of  the  slave 
trade.”* 

(6.)  Liberia  furnishes  posts  of  influence  to  extend  exploration, 
civilization,  and  religion  into  the  interior.  What  has  been  done  is 
little  in  comparison  with  what,  it  is  demonstrated,  can  be  done. 
Liberia  is  not  a  mere  local  commonwealth ;  it  has  continental  rela¬ 
tions.  Providence  has  established  it  to  be  a  light  to  Africa.  Its 
inhabitants  are  beginning  to  open  communications  with  other  dis¬ 
tricts.  The  settlements  on  the  St.  Paul  are  but  the  stepping-stones 
to  the  highland  interior.  New  Christian  states  will,  it  is  believed, 
soon  arise  on  the  banks  of  the  Niger,  and  Central  Africa  be  a  land 
of  Liberty  and  Law.  The  influence  of  the  Americo-African  Re¬ 
public  in  exploring,  civilizing,  and  Christianizing  Central  Africa, 
will  probabiy  be  handed  down  among  the  interesting  memorials  of 
its  national  achievements. 

(T.)  Liberia  has  a  present  and  prospective  relation  to  slavery  in 
the  United  States,  which  in  the  end  will  add  greatly  to  the  resources 
of  African  civilization.  Large  numbers  now  in  slavery,  or  their 
children,  will  become  citizens  of  Africa.  Although  the  Coloniza¬ 
tion  Society  itself  does  not  come  in  contact  with  slavery,  either  by 
its  constitution  or  its  executive  management,  yet  its  incidental  and 
moral  influences  are  all  on  the  side  of  African  freedom.  Its  mea¬ 
sures  give  relief  to  the  consciences  of  individuals  by  furnishing 
the  opportunity  of  emancipation  ;  and  the  very  establishment  and 
prosperity  of  an  African  Republic,  a  majority  of  whose  citizens 
are  liberated  slaves,  is  a  silent  protest  against  the  system  of  bond- 

*  T.  J.  Bowen’s  Central  Africa,  page  34. 


31 


age.  This  is  the  natural  order  of  things,  and  offers  no  violence  to 
existing  rights  in  any  quarter. 

How  large  a  portion  of  our  African  population  will  ultimately 
emigrate  to  Africa  is  among  the  secrets  of  Providence.  The  prob¬ 
lem  cannot  be  solved  until  the  people  have  the  liberty  to  go.  Three 
things  are  certain  :  there  is  land  enough  in  Liberia  for  them,  es¬ 
pecially  with  its  prospective  enlargement,  which  can  be  carried  on 
to  any  extent ;  there  are  resources  enough  in  this  country  to  send 
them — money  enough  to  purchase  and  transport  them,  and  vessels 
enough  to  carry  them ;  and  they  are  acquiring  an  intellectual, 
moral,  and  industrial  preparation  for  freedom.  We  adopt  the  opin¬ 
ion  of  the  sagacious  Dr.  Alexander :  “  If  Liberia  should  continue 
to  flourish  and  increase,  it  is  not  so  improbable  as  many  suppose, 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  African  race,  now  in  this  country,  will, 
in  the  inscrutable  dispensations  of  Providence,  be  restored  to  the 
country  of  their  fathers.”*  Although  the  plan  of  Christianizing 
and  civilizing  Africa  does  not  essentially  depend  upon  numbers,  yet 
this  is  an  element  of  no  mean  value.  In  numbers  are  majesty  and 
power.  The  territory  of  Liberia  can  be  readily  enlarged  to  meet 
the  wants  of  a  mighty  Americo- African  emigration.  Other  States 
or  Republics  may  be  established,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Liberia, 
or  even  in  other  parts  of  Africa,  especially  on  its  southeastern 
coast.  The  truth  is,  that  African  Colonization  is  capable  of  inde¬ 
finite  expansion.  Its  territory  will  be  large  enough  for  the  return 
of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Africa’s  descendants  to  its  shores,  and 
the  work  of  civilization  may  be  correspondingly  increased  in  its 
aspiring  and  encircling  range.  Who  can  foretell  the  results  to 
Africa,  a  century  hence,  of  the  Colonization  scheme,  when  unfolded 
to  the  length  and  breadth  of  its  benevolence  by  the  Providence  of 
God  working  outwardly  upon  its  plans  and  resources,  and  the  Spirit 
of  God  working  inwardly  upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of  its  sub¬ 
jects  ? 

In  this  great  movement  of  the  age,  the  sympathies  of  the  King 
of  nations  are  with  Africa.  The  Bible  is  full  of  hope  to  the  poor, 
the  injured,  the  despised.  God  sustains  the  right  in  human  affairs. 
His  attributes  plead  the  cause  of  truth.  If  civilized  nations  sym¬ 
pathize  in  the  work  of  African  Colonization,  much  more  does  He 
who  superintends  the  interests  of  humanity,  and  in  whose  hands 
are  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

Liberia  commences  her  national  existence  with  trust  in  God. 
Her  history,  although  not  free  from  imperfections,  is  as  yet  com¬ 
paratively  pure.  Liberia  has  not  provoked  the  Divine  wrath  by 
crimes  committed  against  the  light  and  truth  of  the  Gospel.  She 
has  no  daring  sins  to  settle  in  the  reckoning  of  God’s  unforgetting 
judgment.  The  blood  of  martyrs  does  not  cry  for  vengeance  from 

*  History  of  Colonization,  p.  12.  The  Introduction  to  the  History  ought  to 
be  published  by  some  Colonization  Society  in  a  tract  form,  for  circulation  by 
agents,  friends,  colporteurs,  &c. 


82 


her  soil.  Inquisitions  and  Bartholomew  massacres  have  not  stained 
her  annals  with  infamy  and  wrong.  Liberia  starts  on  her  young 
career  and  lofty  mission  with  G-od  on  her  side. 

These  glimpses  of  the  present  history  of  Colonization,  and  of  the 
distant  outlines  of  its  great  prospective,  give  some  assurance  of  the 
displays  of  goodness,  grace,  and  glory,  which  are  awaiting  a  reno¬ 
vated  continent.  God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

4.  The  Capabilities  of  the  African  Race,  as  a  co-ordinate 
and  rising  branch  of  the  human  family,  confirm  the  expectation  of 
a  successful  civilization  on  the  field  of  its  new  activity. 

God’s  plan  gives  to  different  races  a  varying  position  in  the  his¬ 
tory  of  the  world.  Each  has  had  successive  periods  of  advance¬ 
ment,  of  influential  administration,  and  of  gradual  decline.  The 
Asiatic  races,  which  were  once  high  in  political  dominion,  have 
long  since  culminated  and  passed  into  comparative  obscurity.  The 
Venetian  states,  the  Dutch  republic,  the  Spanish  monarchy,  once 
almost  lawgivers  on  their  continent,  have  sunk  into  insignificance  ; 
whilst  Anglo-Saxon  England,  Celtic  France,  and  Sclavonic  Rus¬ 
sia,  rule  the  destiny  of  the  world.  Races  have  risen  and  fallen, 
like  empires.  Having  fulfilled  the  purposes  of  their  providential 
appointment  in  the  Divine  administration,  they  have  been  dis¬ 
missed  from  their  stations  of  national  greatness,  to  make  way 
for  other  races  ordained  of  God  for  the  emergencies  of  a  new  ser¬ 
vice. 

It  may  be  here  remarked  that  many  of  the  Africans,  originally 
transported  into  the  United  States,  did  not  fully  represent  their 
race  in  intellectual  vigour.  Large  numbers  belonged  to  the  lower 
order  of  tribes  on  their  native  continent.  The  mass  of  the  slaves 
were  naturally  captured  from  the  most  abject,  defenceless,  and  in¬ 
ferior  class ;  and,  besides  this,  the  tribes  dwelling  near  the  sea- 
coast  were  generally  more  degraded  than  the  others,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  their  long  contact  with  the  slave  trade  and  its  attendant 
vices.  According  to  the  observation  of  missionaries,  the  tribes  in 
the  interior  appear,  in  most  cases,  to  be  of  a  higher  order  of  in¬ 
telligence  and  physical  development.  The  Rev.  John  Leighton 
Wilson,  D.D.,  who  was  a  missionary  in  Africa  for  nearly  twenty 
years,  expresses  the  following  opinion : 

u  Looking  at  the  African  race,  as  we  have  done,  in  their  native  country,  we 
have  seen  no  obstacles  to  their  elevation  which  would  not  apply  equally  to  all 
other  uncultivated  races  of  men.  They  are  ignorant,  superstitious,  and  demo¬ 
ralized,  it  is  true,  but  it  is  the  circumstances  of  heathenism,  in  which  they  have 
always  lived,  that  have  made  them  such,  and  not  anything  that  inherently  per- 
tains  to  them  as  a  race.  Compared  with  the  civilized  nations  of  the  earth,  their 
deficiencies  become  palpable  enough  :  but  compared  with  the  South  Sea  Islanders, 
previous  to  the  period  when  they  were  brought  under  the  influence  of  Christianity, 
the  Indian  tribes  of  our  own  country,  who  have  never  enjoyed  the  blessings  of 
education,  or  even  with  the  great  masses  of  ignorant  poor  who  throng  all  the 
great  cities  of  the  civilized  world,  they  do  not  appear  to  any  disadvantage  what- 


I 


33 

ever.  No  one  can  live  among  them  without  being  impressed  with  their  natural 
energy  of  character,  and  their  shrewdness  and  close  observation.” 


The  African  race  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  It  has  been  kept  back 
from  prominent  action  in  human  affairs,  when — if  it  had  pleased 
God — he  might  have  clothed  it  with  the  terror  of  Mohammedan  ag¬ 
gression,  or  wielded  it  with  the  supremacy  of  Anglo-Saxon  civiliza¬ 
tion.  The  race  is  yet  in  its  childhood.  It  is  new,  fresh,  open  to 
formative  influences.  Its  heart  has  not  been  hardened  by  the  re¬ 
jection  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  It  is  not  an  old,  effete  race.  It 
has  had,  as  yet,  no  historical  development.  Merged  in  heathen 
darkness,  its  past  has  lacked  the  advantage  of  a  favourable  experi¬ 
ment.  The  set  time  for  its  action  seems  at  length  to  have  come. 
The  all-wise  Being  who  transferred  many  of  its  members  from 
their  barbaric  homes  for  education  under  ameliorating  influences, 
is  now  sending  them  back  to  discharge  a  mission  worthy  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  Docile  in  temper,  unambitious  in  spirit,  sus¬ 
ceptible  to  the  attractions  of  goodness,  this  young  race  is  destined 
to  perform  an  important  evangelistic  part  in  the  spread  of  religion 
throughout  the  earth.  Its  present  attitude  is  one  of  great  interest. 
So  far  as  it  has  been  brought  into  contact  with  Christian  institu¬ 
tions  in  this  country  or  elsewhere,  the  result  has  been  in  a  high 
degree  honourable  to  its  susceptibility  of  intellectual  and  moral 
cultivation. 

Other  races  were  once  as  uncultivated  as  the  Africans.  Hordes 
of  savage  tribes  overran  Europe  at  a  period  not  far  distant  in  the 
past.  The  rude  inhabitants  of  the  North — the  Goths  and  Vandals. 
— the  Normans,  Saxons,  Celts,  were  comprehended  in  the  general 
catalogue  of  barbarians.  If,  under  the  transforming  power  of 
Christianity,  these  unenlightened  and  debased  nations  have  at 
length  risen  to  their  present  condition,  may  not  Africa  also  attain 
civilization  ? 

Behold,  too,  the  progress  which  religion  is  making,  during  the 
present  generation,  among  other  savage  races  in  different  parts  of 
the  earth.  The  Esquimaux  render  homage  to  Christ  amidst  Arctic 
desolation.  The  Sandwich  Islanders,  with  their  schools,  churches, 
and  political  institutions,  now  belong  to  civilized  nations.  The 
inhabitants  of  Polynesia,  abandoning  idolatry  and  savage  life,  ac¬ 
cept  the  reformation  which  brings  blessings  to  the  Gentiles.  Wher¬ 
ever  Christianity  is  carried  in  its  pure  faith  by  godly  men,  it  wins 
its  way  to  the  heart  by  the  grace  of  God,  and  elevates  degenerate 
human  nature  from  the  degradation  of  ages. 

Under  appropriate  cultivation,  and  with  the  advantage  of  time, 
African  intellect  will  make  known  its  capability.  In  the  midst  of 
disparaging  and  unequal  opportunities,  it  has  given  tokens  of  genu¬ 
ine  promise.  Through  the  clouds  of  a  dark  sky,  its  lights  already 
shine,  here  and  there.  The  men  of  Liberia  rise  up  to  their  emer¬ 
gency.  Lott  Cary,  Roberts,  Benedict,  Benson,  Augustus  Wash- 

3 


84 


ington,  Lewis,  Williams,  and  others,  are  not  inferior,  as  writers, 
executive  officers,  and  wise  leaders  of  the  people,  to  the  public  offi¬ 
cers  in  the  different  States  of  the  American  Union.*  Opportunity 
is  the  mother  of  greatness.  Cultivated  mind  will  yet  avenge  the 
wrongs  of  African  degradation,  and  demonstrate  the  powers  of  an 
untried  and  despised  race. 

Civilization  has  a  peculiar  mission  in  Africa,  which  is  to  be  ful¬ 
filled  by  the  gradual  elevation  of  the  Negro  race.  The  civilization 
of  the  Jews  unfolded  to  the  world  the  great  idea  of  the  relation  of 
the  state  to  God  ;  that  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans  aspired  to  the 
perfection  of  municipal  regulations,  to  the  accurate  definition  of 
the  rights  of  individuals  and  the  governing  powers  ;  Norman, 
Gothic,  and  Saxon  civilization  illustrated  the  manhood  and  inde¬ 
pendence  of  the  races  ;  whilst  African  civilization  is  destined  to 
demonstrate  the  equality  of  the  races  as  members  of  the  hu¬ 
man  family.  This  great  problem  of  the  book  of  nature  finds  some 
of  its  elements  already  calculated  in  the  book  of  Providence. 
The  human  faculties  are  dependent  upon  God,  who  bestows  gifts 
upon  whom  He  will.  Nor  does  he  allow  His  plans  to  fail  from 
want  of  intellectual  or  moral  capacity  in  His  creatures.  “  There 
is  a  spirit  in  man  :  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty  giveth  him 
understanding.”  He  who  raised  up  “  wise-hearted”  men  in  the 
wilderness  to  construct  the  tabernacle  and  to  perform  the  required 
service  in  all  the  mechanical  arts,  will  communicate  all  the  gifts  of 
intellect  that  are  needed  for  the  work  of  the  African  wilderness 
and  for  the  establishment  of  the  children  of  Ham  in  their  ances¬ 
tral  habitation.  Human  pride  exalts  the  creature,  and  attributes 
to  human  efficiency  the  pre-eminence  of  one  race  over  another. 
But  the  conceit  of  man  shall  receive  correction  in  a  contest  with 
Providence.  God  sets  up  one  and  puts  down  another.  Retribu¬ 
tion,  as  well  as  grace,  developes  a  principle  that  may  be  applied  to 
races  as  well  as  to  individuals,  “  the  first  shall  be  last,  and  the  last 
shall  be  first.”  Those  who  despise  in  man, 

11  The  shadowed  livery  of  the  burnished  sun,” 

may  witness  in  the  end  the  humiliation  of  a  reversed  condition. 
In  the  “  set  time”  of  the  Divine  purposes,  the  Negro  race  shall  be 

*  The  late  Dr.  Alexander,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  African  character 
and  history,  remarks  in  relation  to  the  success  of  Liberia,  u  The  problem  has 
been  fairly  solved  that  the  coloured  race  are  as  capable  of  improvement  as  the 
whites ;  and  in  every  department  of  government,  they  have  manifested  sound 
sense  and  discretion,  equal  to  what  could  have  been  expected  from  people  of 
any  other  nation,  with  no  greater  advantages  of  education  than  they  have  en¬ 
joyed.  Indeed  we  have  not  seen  any  state  papers  which  indicate  a  sounder 
judgment,  and  more  just  discernment  of  the  true  interests  of  the  Colony,  than 
those  of  Governor  Roberts.  Even  in  his  correspondence  with  officers  of  the 
British  navy  on  points  of  international  law,  he  appears  to  oreat  advantage.” — 
Hist,  of  Col.  p.  7. 


35 


elevated  intellectually,  morally,  and  politically,  to  equal  dignity 
with  other  races  of  mankind.  God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

5.  The  remarkable  position  of  the  continent  of  Africa 
AT  the  present  time  indicates  an  approaching  advancement  in 
the  destiny  of  its  race.  Long  shut  out  from  intercourse  with  civi¬ 
lized  nations,  Africa  at  last  opens  her  gates,  as  if  in  concert  with  a 
higher  power. 

Among  the  reasons  for  this  long  providential  separation  from  the 
civilized  world  may  have  been,  in  the  first  place,  the  preservation 
of  the  continent  from  greater  evils.  Intercourse  with  other  nations, 
when  unaccompanied  by  Christianity,  has  only  added  the  worst 
vices  of  civilization  to  those  of  barbarism.  The  savage  tribes  on 
the  western  coast  of  Africa  have  been  made  tenfold  more  “  the 
children  of  hell”  than  they  were  before,  by  the  monstrous  atroci¬ 
ties  of  the  slave  trade.  Spain,  Portugal,  Holland,  and  England, 
for  more  than  a  century,  added  to  the  woes  of  Africa ;  and  if  free 
intercourse  had  existed  with  the  interior,  the  injuries  would  have 
been  increased  to  a  corresponding  extent.  Providence  has  guarded 
the  continent  from  open  communication  with  other  nations,  until 
they  were  prepared  to  bring  Christianity  with  trade,  and  the  means 
of  evangelization  with  the  enterprise  of  commerce.  In  the  second 
place,  the  entrance  of  other  races  in  to  Africa,  in  any  considerable 
numbers,  would  have  interfered  with  the  higher  plan  of  blessing 
the  continent  through  its  own  restored  and  Christianized  descen¬ 
dants.  And  in  the  third  place,  the  time  for  the  execution  of  God’s 
great  African  plans  had  not  yet  come. 

God  is  now  opening  Africa  to  the  world.  The  unfolding  portals 
of  the  continent  invite  nations  to  share  its  intercourse  and  partake 
of  its  destined  greatness.  Travellers  are  penetrating  its  territory 
on  every  side.  Its  lakes,  Tchad  and  Ngami,  have  been  brought 
into  geographical  connection  with  those  of  Europe  and  America  ; 
the  city  of  Timbuctoo,  the  metropolis  of  West  Central  Africa,  has 
been  verified  as  to  existence,  extent,  and  resources  ;  caravans, 
freighted  with  traffic,  have  been  seen  in  long  procession ;  rivers 
have  been  navigated  by  steamers,  and  the  White  Nile,  the  Niger, 
and  the  Zambezi  have  been  traced  far  up  in  their  meanderings  ; 
snow-clad  mountains  loom  to  view,  with  prairies  and  fertile  regions 
of  vast  extent.  Cotton,  sugar,  rice,  wheat,  corn,  and  all  the  rich 
vegetable  products  of  tropical  regions,  are  successfully  cultivated. 
The  ruins  of  Cyrenaica,  of  Agharme,  and  of  Harar,  the  ancient 
metropolis  of  a  once  mighty  race  in  Eastern  Africa,  are  enrolled 
among  the  curiosities  of  historic  wonder ;  the  unknown  space  be¬ 
tween  St.  Paul  de  Loando  in  Angola  and  Quillemane  on  the  Mozam¬ 
bique  Channel,  has  been  traversed  by  Livingstone ;  people  pos¬ 
sessing  claims  to  civilization  are  met  with  in  the  remote  interior  ; 
and 

.  11  A  thousand  realms  horizoned  to  the  view” 


36 


give  promise  of  a  large  population  and  invite  to  missionary  labour. 
In  short,  a  knowledge  has  been  secured  of  African  climate,  soil, 
productions,  natural  history,  geography,  resources,  and  races,  which 
is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  future  intercourse  and  progress 
of  the  continent. 

The  hand  of  God  is  in  these  African  explorations.  He  who 
causeth  “  the  stork  in  the  heavens  to  know  her  appointed  times, 
and  the  turtle,  the  crane,  and  the  swallow  to  observe  the  time  of 
their  coming,”*  has  arranged  the  motives,  the  principles,  and  the 
circumstances  by  which  so  many  men  have  made  discoveries  which 
bring  before  the  civilized  world  the  prospects  of  Africa’s  future 
greatness.  As  every  important  invention  has  come  to  pass  at  the 
very  time  it  was  most  calculated  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the 
human  family, f  so  every  geographical  discovery  has  corresponded, 
in  time,  place,  and  extent,  with  great  moral  purposes  in  the  Divine 
government.  When  a  Western  continent  was  needed  for  the  foun¬ 
dation  of  a  new  Christian  empire,  then,  and  not  till  then,  was 
America  brought  in  contact  with  the  Eastern  hemisphere.  Africa 
is  now  emerging  from  its  gloom,  almost  with  the  light  of  a  new 
discovery,  and  at  a  period  when  everything  points  to  its  higher 
agency  in  the  world’s  affairs.  Some  of  the  thoughts  suggested  by 
the  present  aspect  of  Africa,  may  be  summarily  recapitulated  : 

(1.)  The  Providence  of  God  superintends  the  fate  of  continents 
by  the  unsearchable  methods  of  infinite  wisdom. 

(2.)  The  time  of  Africa’s  prominence  is  drawing  near,  in  the  ad¬ 
vent  of  a  higher  destiny. 

(3.)  Great  advantages  will  accrue  to  the  world  from  the  opening 
of  a  new  continent  to  commerce,  trade,  manufactures,  and  the  arts, 
and  especially  to  the  prayers  and  efforts  of  Christianity. 

(4.)  The  coincidence  of  African  explorations  and  discoveries 
with  the  progress  of  African  colonization  and  the  expansion  of 
the  institutions  of  Liberia,  is  interesting,  instructive,  and  en¬ 
couraging. 

(5.)  God  is  calling  upon  the  Christian  and  civilized  world  to 
sympathize  with  and  labour  for  the  African  race  with  more  earnest 
zeal  and  hope  ;  bound  with  them  as  bond,  and  helpers  of  their  free¬ 
dom,  if  free. 

God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa.  The  continent  responds  to  his 
call. 

6.  The  future  triumphs  of  Redemption  include  the  regene¬ 
ration  of  Africa.  Prophecy  comes  to  the  aid  of  reason,  faith,  and 
philanthropy ;  and  uplifting  the  veil  of  a  continent’s  glory,  shows 
its  tribes  and  kingdoms  rejoicing  in  God. 

The  scheme  of  colonization  does  not  arrogate  to  itself  the  ex- 


*  Jeremiah  8  :  7. 

f  See  Blakely’s  Theology  of  Inventions ,  republished  by  the  Messrs.  Carter. 


37 


elusive  instrumentality  of  renovating  Africa.  Other  means,  and 
from  other  quarters,  will  co-operate  in  the  blessed  labour  of  love. 
White  missionaries  for  Africa  will  be  in  greater  demand  during  the 
next  half  century  than  ever  before.  The  whole  interior  being  ac¬ 
cessible  to  the  Gospel,  the  cry  for  help  must  be  immediately  an¬ 
swered,  and  it  can  be  answered  by  none  so  promptly  and  efficiently 
as  by  the  missionaries  of  the  Evangelical  churches  of  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  A  large  part  of  the  evangelistic  opera¬ 
tions  on  this  continent,  so  far  as  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  is 
concerned,  must  be  carried  on  for  an  interval  by  white  missiona¬ 
ries,  as  heretofore.  It  will  take  more  than  one  generation  to  send 
forth  suitable  coloured  preachers  in  sufficient  numbers. 

Nor  will  the  West  be  the  only  quarter  from  wdience  aggressive 
movements  will  be  made  against  African  barbarism  and  degrada¬ 
tion.  The  southeastern  part  of  Africa,  from  Port  Natal  to  the 
Zambezi,  and  up  to  Cape  Gardefui,  will  supply  a  field  of  influ¬ 
ential  missionary  operations  into  the  interior.  This  district  of 
country  is  likely  to  be  one  of  the  most  inviting  on  the  whole  con¬ 
tinent.  It  is  here  that  Moffat  and  Livingstone  propose  to  com¬ 
mence  missionary  stations,  in  a  high,  healthy  location,  and  in  con¬ 
tact  with  intelligent,  populous  tribes.  Another  part  of  Africa 
from  whence  light  may  be  expected  to  spring  forth,  is  from  the  an¬ 
cient  Copts  and  Abyssinians,  in  the  valley  of  the  Nile.  Providence 
has  preserved  these  Christians  in  the  midst  of  Mohammedan  and 
barbaric  rule  for  some  great  purpose  ;  and  although  now  corrupt,  as 
a  Church,  they  are,  nevertheless,  in  possession  of  seeds  of  truth 
which  grace  can  germinate  into  a  glorious  harvest. 

(t  Copt,  Abyssinian,  from  the  dust 
Of  ages  shall  their  raiment  shake  ; 

And  many  spirits  of  the  just 
In  these  degenerate  sons  awake  ! 

.Dry  bones  they  are — but  God  can  raise 

Old  Anthony  and  Athanase.” 

These  three  principal  centres  of  evangelical  effort — correspond¬ 
ing  in  the  general  with  the  three  mighty  rivers,  Niger,  Zambezi, 
and  Nile — will  contribute  to  swell  “  the  stream  which  shall  make 
glad”  in  Africa  “  the  city  of  our  God.”  As  related  to  the  negro  race, 
Liberia,  with  its  scheme  of  colonization,  inspires  the  most  hope  for 
the  renovation  of  the  continent.  The  providences  alluded  to  in  pre¬ 
vious  portions  of  this  Address  seem  to  magnify  the  converted  Afri¬ 
cans  of  America  as  the  chief  instruments  of  civilization  and  religion 
on  theip  native  shores. 

God  takes  time  to  fulfil  his  counsels.  “  A  day  is  with  the  Lord 
as  a  thousand  years,  and  a  thousand  years  as  a  day.”  The  cap¬ 
tivity  of  Egypt  and  the  training  of  the  wilderness  were  irksome  to 
the  generations  doomed  to  perish  in  their  perversities  ;  but  forty 
years  of  special  training ,  after  two  hundred  years  of  bondage,  con- 


38 


stituted  the  Divine  preparation  for  entering  into  Canaan.  Some 
striking  analogies  may  be  here  briefly  noticed  between  the  history 
of  the  Israelites  in  Egypt  and  of  the  Africans  in  America,  in  their 
training  for  a  special  work  in  a  distant  land  :  (1.)  Both  people 
were  consigned  into  foreign  bondage  as  a  condition  of  their  future 
elevation  and  usefulness.  (2.)  They  were  preserved  distinct  in 
the  midst  of  an  abounding  population  of  a  different  race.  (3.)  In 
their  state  of  subjection  they  greatly  increased  in  number.  (4.) 
They  were  kept  in  slavery  for  a  long  period.  (5.)  They  were  made 
to  take  their  departure  out  of  the  land  of  bondage  in  a  way  that 
brought  to  view  God’s  wmnder-working  hand  [only  partially  ful¬ 
filled  as  to  the  Africans].  (6.)  They  had  a  preliminary  training, 
even  after  they  were  set  free — the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness,  the 
Africans  in  Liberia,  where  they  may  be  said  to  be,  as  yet,  prepar¬ 
ing  for  their  great  work.*  (T.)  They  took  possession  of  the  land, 
at  last,  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  kings.  One  of  the  diversities 
of  the  history  is,  that  the  Israelites  went  out  together  in  one  band 
by  a  single  royal  edict  of  emancipation,  whereas  the  Africans  are 
sent  forth  in  separate  companies,  and  few  at  a  time.  But  this  di¬ 
versity  may  be  explained,  partly  by  the  different  character  of  the 
bondage,  which  necessitated  a  simultaneous  exodus  of  the  Israelites, 
and  partly  by  the  immediate  work  to  be  done  in  the  new  country, 
which  in  the  one  case  was  warlike,  and  in  the  other  peaceful  and 
spiritual.  The  analogies  are  sufficiently  close  between  the  two 
cases  to  constitute  a  plea  for  time  on  the  part  of  God  to  train  and 
bring  forth  the  Africans  for  the  religious  conquest  of  the  land  of 
their  fathers. 

However  long  delayed,  the  period  of  Africa’s  redemption  will 
come.  “  The  night  is  far  spent;  the  day  is  at  hand.”  Morning 
beams  already  play  along  the  coast,  and  streaks  of  “  sunrise  in 
the  tropics”  cast  their  tints  upon  an  increasing  moral  vegetation. 
The  valleys  begin  to  sing.  Gospel  culture  will  convert  Central 
Africa  into  a  garden  of  the  Lord.  The  blood  of  Christ  was  shed 
for  the  four  continents  of  the  human  race,  and  is  offered  to  all  in 
the  great  commission  to  u  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.” 
Prophecy  declares  the  things  that  shall  be  :  “  The  whole  earth 
shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  as  the  waters  cover 
the  sea.”  Every  land  shall  become  Immanuel’s  ;  and  in  holy 
union  with  tribes  and  people  of  every  tongue,  “  Ethiopia  shall 
stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God.” 

11  And  Afric’s  dusky  swarms, 

That  from  Morocco  to  Angola  dwelt, 

And  drank  the  Niger  from  his  native  wells, 

Or  roused  the  lion  in  Numidia’s  groves  ; 

The  tribes  that  sat  anjong  the  fabled  cliffs 
Of  Atlas,  looking  to  Atlanta;s  wave, 

*  The  remark  also  holds  true  in  regard  to  the  free  coloured  population  in  the 
United  States. 


39 


With  joy  and  melody  arose  and  came  ; 

Zara  awoke  and  came  ;  and  Egypt  came, 

Casting  her  idols  into  the  Nile. 

Black  Ethiopia,  that,  shadowless, 

Beneath  the  Torrid  burned,  arose  and  came. 

Dauma  and  Medra,  and  the  pirate  tribes 
Of  Algeri,  with  incense  came  and  pure 
Offerings,  annoying  now  the  seas  no  more.” 

Is  it  too  much  to  suppose  that,  in  the  ingathering  of  nations, 
the  bondmen  of  America  may  sustain  to  the  quickening  of  Africa 
at  least  something  of  the  relation  of  the  Jews  to  the  Gentiles — 
even  life  from  the  dead  ? 

As  astronomers  have  visited  Africa  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
observations  of  the  heavens,  to  the  greatest  advantage,  so  the  con¬ 
tinent  of  Ham  may  ultimately  afford  to  the  eye  of  faith  the  bright¬ 
est  displays  of  Providence  and  the  grandest  sights  of  Redemption. 
Many  things,  it  is  true,  are  unrevealed  ;  but  Africa’s  redemption 
is  made  sure.  44  Oh,  the  depths  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom 
and  the  knowledge  of  God  !  How  unsearchable  are  his  judgments, 
and  his  ways  past  finding  out !” 

,  Africa  is  a  continent  of  great  historical  associations.  Egypt  is 
generally  supposed  to  have  attained  an  earlier  and  higher  civiliza¬ 
tion  than  any  other  nation  in  the  ancient  world.  There  stand  her 
mighty  Pyramids — mute  sentinels  of  history,  guarding  the  myste¬ 
rious  memorials  of  centuries.  In  later  ages,  on  the  Libyan  co;ist, 
Carthage  contended  with  Rome  for  the  mastery  of  the  world.  Alex¬ 
andria,  bright  among  the  centres  of  civilization  with  its  learning 
and  its  library,  shone  like  the  watch-tower  of  the  Nile.  The  asso¬ 
ciations  of  religion  transcend  those  of  civil  history.  Abraham, 
the  bearer  of  the  covenant  of  promise,  full  of  blessings  to  all  na¬ 
tions,  twice  came  down  to  dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt.  Here  the 
Israelites  groaned  in  bondage  for  two  hundred  years  ;  and  from 
African  ground  their  cry  went  up  into  heaven.  In  Africa,  God 
wrought  the  stupendous  miracles  of  his  outstretched  arm,  in  glorious 
succession,  to  the  extreme  boundary  of  the  continent.  Moses,  the 
legislator  of  the  Old  Testament  dispensation,  was  Egypt-born,  and 
nurtured  at  the  Nile.  And  beyond  Abraham,  to  whom  the  Pro¬ 
mises  were  given,  and  Moses,  through  whom  came  the  Law,  the 
Son  of  Man  tarried  in  Africa,  the  fulfiller  of  Promises,  the  mag¬ 
nifier  of  Law,  the  teacher  of  Grace  and  Truth.  Yes,  the  Redeem¬ 
er’s  feet  touched  African  soil,  and  his  eyes  beheld  her  sky  and 
stars.  The  infant  Jesus  became  a  refugee  from  the  bloody  tyranny 
of  men,  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  of  the  Lord  by 
the  prophet,  44  Out  of  Egypt  have  I  called  my  Son.”  On  the  day 
of  the  crucifixion  of  the  Lord  of  glory,  the  burden  of  bearing  the 
cross  was  laid  upon  44  one  Cymon,  a  Cyrenian  and  in  Africa 
lived  and  died  Augustin,  the  Defender  of  the  Faith,  and  the  Fa¬ 
ther  of  the  theology  of  the  Reformation. 

4 


40 


The  succession  of  great  events  shall  be  restored  to  Africa  Christian¬ 
ized.  New  kingdoms  shall  arise  in  the  light  of  the  blessings  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  whose  civilization  shall  excel  the  monumental 
glories  of  perished  dynasties.  Institutions  of  learning  shall  be  planted 
throughout  her  latitudes  and  longitudes,  from  Liberia  to  Abyssinia, 
and  from  Congo  to  Caffraria ;  churches  of  Jesus  Christ  shall  be 
established  on  her  prairies,  hills,  and  along  her  rolling  rivers  ;  phi¬ 
losophers,  statesmen,  and  philanthropists  shall  have  names  “  full  of 
might  and  immortality  the  Negro  race  shall  fulfil  its  high  and 
wonderful  destiny  in  the  divine  counsels  ;  and  on  Africa’s  shores 
displays  of  God’s  goodness,  grace,  and  glory  shall  be  unfolded  to 
the  admiration  of  men  and  of  angels.  At  the  resurrection  of  the 
just,  millions  of  ransomed  ones  shall  spring  forth  from  tropical 
graves.  The  descendants  of  Ham  shall  stand,  with  those  of  Shem 
and  Japheth,  amidst  “  the  great  multitude  which  no  man  can  num¬ 
ber,  before  the  throne  of  God  and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with 
white  robes  and  with  palms  in  their  hands,  and  shall  cry  with  a 
loud  voice,  saying,  Salvation  to  our  God  which  sitteth  upon  the 
throne  and  unto  the  Lamb  forever.” 

THE  OBJECTS  OF  THE  ASHMUN  INSTITUTE. 

Our  discussion  is  ended.  It  has  aimed  to  show  that  the  Provi¬ 
dence  of  God,  which  has  been  exercising  its  benevolence  for  many 
years  towards  the  coloured  race  in  this  country,  now  points  to  Africa 
as  the  chief  scene  of  its  high  and  influential  action.  Thus,  the  return 
of  the  barbarian  bondmen,  as  Christian  freemen,  will  be  made  the 
occasion  of  great  displays  of  the  Divine  goodness,  grace  and  glory 
to  a  benighted  continent ;  and  God  will  be  glorified  by  Africa. 

A  practical  injunction  of  the  discussion  is  the  importance  and 
necessity  of  African  education  in  our  own  country.  Insti¬ 
tutions  of  learning  like  the  Ashmun  Institute,  possess  the  sanction 
of  a  providential  command.  To  be  guided  by  the  pillar  and  the  cloud 
is  only  less  glorious  than  to  dwell  in  the  light  of  the  Shekina.  A 
greater  or  more  interesting  work  was  never  committed  to  the  Church 
than  that  of  elevating  the  children  of  Ham  to  their  true  social  and 
religious  condition  on  their  own  continent,  and  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth.  Privileged  is  the  land  and  the  age  that  shall  behold 
enlarged  efforts  for  the  moral  and  political  recovery  of  Africa. 

The  views  presented  in  this  Address  tend,  it  is  believed,  to  bene¬ 
volent  and  immediate  action.  They  impart  a  dignity  to  the  coloured 
man  which  he  can  never  possess,  simply  as  an  American  citizen, 
and  assign  to  him  a  relation  to  Africa’s  redemption  infinitely  more 
honourable  than  any  distinction  attainable  in  the  United  States. 
Upon  the  people  of  America  rests  the  obligation  to  supply  the  in¬ 
stitutions  of  learning  which  are  suited  to  the  mission  of  the  African 
race  at  the  present  eventful  period  of  its  history.  Here,  in  America, 
this  population  have  been  sent  for  intellectual  and  moral  elevation 


✓ 


41 


in  the  Providence  of  God ;  here  they  have  already  received  a  Chris¬ 
tian  training  of  great  interest,  in  the  midst  of  many  disparagements; 
here,  are  enrolled  more  than  three  millions  of  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  who  may  be  supposed  to  sympathize  with  their 
lowly  estate,  and  who  possess  love  enough  and  wealth  enough 
to  supply  every  want ;  here,  stands  the  great  fulcrum  upon  which 
rests  the  lever  of  African  Colonization  with  its  sweep  of  power ; 
here,  the  hopes  of  the  present  and  future  generations  are  centred 
with  increasing  light  and  glory.  The  wrongs  of  the  past  plead  for  our 
good-will  and  good  deeds  in  all  time  to  come.  Philanthropy’s  best 
parting  gift  to  the  coloured  race  on  their  high  career,  is  Christian 
training  of  mind  and  heart.  Even  the  Egyptians  lent  to  the  Isra¬ 
elites,  at  the  Exodus,  “such  things  as  they  required,”  “jewels  of 
silver,  and  jewels  of  gold,  and  raiment.”  With  what  higher  readi¬ 
ness  shall  American  Christians  send  forth  the  freemen  of  Africa, 
enriched  with  the  jewels  and  silver  of  intellectual  cultivation  and 
the  investitures  of  moral  and  immortal  culture  ! 

The  Ashmun  Institute  wisely  looks  to  Africa  as  the  seat  of  its 
principal  influence.  Its  plans  and  policy  are  to  the  East.  It  faces 
the  rising  sun.  Its  public  instruction,  its  private  counsels,  its  Chris¬ 
tian  example,  its  hopes  and  efforts,  will  all  and  always  exalt  Africa. 
Its  name  is  an  everlasting  remembrancer  of  its  purpose.  Ashmun 
lived  and  died  for  the  continent ;  and  the  Institute  that  hears  his 
name,  is  African  in  heart  and  in  life,  now  and  forever.  Neverthe¬ 
less,  the  liberty  of  private  judgment  will  be  held  inviolate,  and  the 
institution  will  accomplish  its  utmost  for  all  its  pupils,  whatever  be 
the  place  of  their  destination. 

Education  for  the  ministry  is  a  prominent  object  of  the  Ashmun 
Institute.  The  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  is  the  divine  instrument 
of  salvation,  and  of  civilization.  To  preach  it  to  every  creature 
is  the  high  duty  of  the  Church.  The  Presbytery  of  Newcastle, 
therefore,  welcome  to  the  institution  all  young  men  of  promise 
whom  God  may  call  to  this  great  work.  Even  if  a  single  ambas¬ 
sador  shall  be  led  by  the  Divine  Spirit  to  come  out  from  the  world, 
and  to  prepare  to  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ,  the 
undertaking  will  receive  an  enduring  and  satisfying  reward.  It 
will  possess  a  triumph  greater  than  the  military  deeds  celebrated 
by  cannon  captured  at  Waterloo,  or  by  the  guns  of  the  Tuileries. 
Spiritual  victories  will  be  echoed  back  to  these  walls  from  far  dis¬ 
tant  lands.  A  goodly  number  of  ministers,  it  may  be  believed,  will 
be  educated  at  the  Ashmun  Institute  ;  and  of  these,  some  will  be 
missionaries  to  Africa. 

Missionaries  of  the  coloured  race  must  naturally  exert  a  peculiar 
influence  among  the  native  tribes  in  preaching  the  Gospel.  Even 
in  our  own  country,  educated  coloured  men  create  a  favourable  im¬ 
pression,  not  only  personally,  but  in  behalf  of  their  race  ;  much 


42 


more  in  Africa  will  they  exhibit  an  example  of  Christian  and  cul¬ 
tivated  life  that  will  awaken  new  interest  and  render  more  effective 
the  efforts  to  win  the  tribes  to  civilization  and  Christianity.  But 
missionaries  cannot  labour  to  full  advantage,  unless  they  are  dis¬ 
ciplined,  well-furnished,  educated.  The  Church  must  do  her  best 
in  sending  the  Gospel  to  Africa.  Pious  ignorance  is  insufficient ; 
and  mere  human  learning  is  helpless.  Religion  and  learning,  in 
holy  union,  are  the  general  qualifications  for  the  ministry.  Our 
missionaries  to  Africa  should  be  men  of  both  humble  piety  and  of 
enlightened  cultivation.  The  Rev.  John  Leighton  Wilson,  D.D., 
makes  some  appropriate  and  important  observations  on  this  point, 
in  his  work  on  Africa  : — 

u  If  coloured  men  of  education,  intelligence,  and  of  humble  and  undoubted 
piety  could  be  found  willing  to  engage  in  this  work,  those  who  are  now  on  the 
field  would  not  only  give  them  a  hearty  welcome  as  fellow-labourers,  but  if  they 
were  sufficiently  numerous,  would  cheerfully  commit  the  whole  work  into  their 
hands,  and  seek  some  other  sphere  of  labour  for  themselves.  But  it  is  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  so  few  coloured  men  of  suitable  qualifications  have  come  forward 
to  engage  in  this  work,  and  in  view  of  the  fact,  likewise,  that  the  future  presents 
no  near  prospects  in  this  respect  brighter  than  the  past,  that  we  are  to  inquire 
what  are  our  duties  to  the  perishing  millions  of  Africa.” 

u  I  have  been  particular  in  stating  that  coloured  men,  in  order  to  be  useful 
missionaries  in  Africa,  must  be  men  of  high  moral  and  intellectual  qualifications, 
and  of  tried  and  undoubted  piety.  On  this  point  we  feel  that  we  can  not  insist 
too  strongly.  Every  observing  person  must  have  seen*  that  it  is  neither  wise  nor 
economical  to  send  out  men  to  the  heathen  who  have  not  the  capacity  to  exert  a 
commanding  influence  in  their  native  country.  If  there  is  any  place  in  the  world 
where  thorough  piety  and  mental  energy  are  indispensable  to  success,  it  is  on 
heathen  ground.  How  can  it  be  otherwise  ?  To  look  into  all  the  windings  and 
intricacies  of  heathen  character ;  to  render  one’s  self  familiar  with  the  habits, 
feelings,  and  motives  of  a  class  of  men  who  have  no  sympathies  with  ourselves  ; 
to  acquire  the  art  of  exerting  an  influence  over  the  minds  of  men  who  have  been 
trained  up  in  heathenism  ;  to  lay  hold  of  an  unwritten,  barbarous  language,  spend 
months  and  years  in  developing  its  rules  and  principles,  and  acquire  that  lan¬ 
guage  so  as  to  use  it  with  perfect  ease ;  to  call  into  exercise  energies  that  have 
slumbered  for  centuries  ;  and  to  endure  patiently  the  reverses,  trials,  and  disap¬ 
pointments  incident  to  missionary  life,  require  the  best  and  the  ablest  men  the 
Church  can  furnish.  If  the  number  of  coloured  men  in  this  country  capable  of 
meeting  these  high  demands  is  considerable,  we  know  it  not.  There  is  a  small 
number  of  such  now  in  the  African  field,  and  we  cheerfully  award  them  the  praise 
of  great  self-denial  and  extensive  usefulness.”* 

The  relation  of  the  Ashmun  Institute  to  the  work  of  missions  in 
Africa  is  undoubtedly  prominent  among  the  various  attractions  of 
the  institution.  Young  men,  who  might  otherwise  have  never  risen 
above  “  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water,”  will  by  God’s  grace 
be  endued  with  power  to  impress  their  influence  upon  a  continent. 
Eyes  that  here  study  lessons  of  preparatory  learning,  shall  see  the 
bold  promontory  of  inviting  Mesurado,  the  fertile  fields  of  Liberia 
and  Angola,  and  the  mountains  and  lakes  of  a  strangely  interesting 
land.  Feet  that  tread  these  halls  shall  stand  on  soil,  once  wet  with 
the  crime  of  the  slave  trade,  and  shall  explore  plains, 


*  Western  Africa,  pp.  506,  507. 


43 


u  Where  Afric’s  sunny  fountains 
Roll  down  their  golden  sand.” 

Hearts  that  have  been  here  trained  to  exercise  an  enlightened  com¬ 
passion  for  perishing  souls,  shall  plead  with  the  tribes  and  kindred 
of  their  race,  and  point  inquiring  Ethiopians  to  “the  Lamb  of  God, 
who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world.”  Young  men  shall  here 
learn  to  live  and  to  die  for  Africa.  “  The  night  is  far  spent,  the 
day  is  at  hand.”  Awake,  Christian  descendants  of  Ham,  to  “spend 
and  be  spent”  for  God.  At  such  a  time  as  this,  and  for  such  a  con¬ 
tinent  as  yours,  gird  on  the  Gospel  armour. 

u  In  an  age  on  ages  telling 
To  be  living  is  sublime.” 

Where,  and  how,  can  a  Christian  minister  of  your  race,  do  more 
than  by  preaching  the  cross  of  Christ  to  the  millions  of  Africa  ? 

Educated  laymen  will  be  sent  forth  to  Africa  from  the  Ashrnun 
Institute.  Leaders  for  the  people  must  be  raised  up.  The  educa¬ 
tion,  which  God  provided  for  Moses,  made  him  “learned  in  all  the 
wisdom  of  the  Egyptians,”  preparatory  to  the  work  of  governing 
the  Israelites.  A  rising  state  calls  for  cultivated  intellect.  The 
formation  of  its  character  and  the  management  of  its  affairs  cannot 
be  intrusted  to  ignorant  and  narrow-minded  men.  Liberia  has  too 
much  at  stake  to  be  under  any  other  control  than  that  of  wise,  in¬ 
fluential,  public-spirited  statesmen.  Its  executive  department,  its 
legislation,  its  courts  of  justice,  its  literature,  its  professions,  must 
all  be  sustained  at  an  elevation  that  will  secure  its  prosperity  and 
command  the  respect  of  the  world.  The  emigration  from  this 
country  ought  to  furnish  its  just  proportion  of  educated  youth, 
qualified  to  engage  in  all  the  departments  of  professional  and  public 
life.  We  must  “  tend  the  root,”  if  we  would  be  “  careful  of  the 
branches ;”  and 

u Expand 

The  inner  souls  of  men,  before  we  strive 
For  civic  heroes.” 

Who  can  estimate  the  immense  good  that  may  accrue  to  Liberia 
and  to  Africa  from  the  education  of  gifted  intellects  in  this  insti¬ 
tution  of  learning  ?  The  Ashrnun  Institute  stands  like  a  nursing 
mother,  appointed  of  God  to  watch  her  opportunity  by  the  Nile  of 
turbid  and  overflowing  worldliness  ;  and  she  longs  to  rescue  some 
noble  Africans  from  their  bark  of  slime,  and  to  train  them  for  the 
statesmanship  of  a  great  and  growing  Republic. 

The  Ashrnun  Institute  offers  to  educate  promising  young  men 
who  expect  to  remain  in  our  own  country .  Large  numbers  of  the 
African  population  will  continue  to  reside  in  the  United  States,  at 
least  for  many  generations,  and  perhaps  forever.  Whilst  the  wave 
of  African  Colonization  will  bear  onward  masses  to  Africa,  and  the 


44 


wave  of  southwestern  emigration  press  downward  many  towards 
Mexico  and  Central  America,  a  remnant  will  abide  upon  the  soil 
of  their  nativity.*  An  ample  field  of  usefulness  opens  for  effort 
among  our  African  population,  immediately  and  prospectively. 
Under  the  present  aspect  of  things,  abundant  opportunities  to  do 
good  can  be  found  in  churches,  in  Sabbath-schools,  in  day-schools, 
at  the  press,  by  colportage,  in  useful  occupations  of  every  kind. 
African  elevation  is  the  aim  of  the  Institute — elevation  by 
learning  and  religion — true  Christian  elevation — elevation  of  the 
highest  kind  practicable  and  among  the  largest  class  possible.  The 
home  work  of  the  Institute,  as  w7ell  as  its  foreign  v7ork,  is  import¬ 
ant.  Even  as  a  separate  and  entirely  independent  field  of  action, 
this  country  offers  great  inducements  for  the  establishment  of  high 
educational  institutions  for  the  benefit  of  our  coloured  population. 

The  Ashmun  Institute  may  be  expected  to  record  visitations  of 
Divine  grace  among  its  pupils.  God  may  condescend  in  the  many 
forms  of  his  goodness,  to  use  this  Christian  institution  as  an  in¬ 
strumentality  for  the  conversion  of  sinners.  Faith  looks  forward 
to  a  favoured  future.  In  her  visions,  she  beholds  the  answer  to 
prayer  in  the  sanctification  of  instruction.  An  institution  of  learn¬ 
ing  possesses  great  resources  of  present  and  eternal  good  for  its 
pupils.  Dedicated  to  God,  established  with  true  Christian  aims, 
and  inculcating  Divine  truth  in  connection  with  general  knowledge, 
it  carries  the  richest  blessings  of  religion  in  its  course.  Schools, 
Academies,  and  Colleges  have  ever  been  hallowed  to  the  salvation 
of  immortal  minds.  Youth,  who  come  here  strangers  to  the  cove¬ 
nant  of  promise,  may  be  expected,  by  God’s  grace,  to  learn  its 
power  and  to  dedicate  their  lives  to  his  service  ;  whilst  others,  who 
are  already  on  the  Lord’s  side,  shall  be  edified  and  established  in 
holy  faith  and  practice.  Religion  keeps  the  fountains  of  learning 
pure:  and  preparation  for  this  life  becomes,  under  its  genial  power, 
preparation  for  immortality. 

The  Ashmun  Institute  will  assist  in  rallying  the  hopes  of  the 
friends  of  Africa ,  especially  by  placing  before  them  work  to  be 
done.  An  unhopeful,  desponding  spirit  backslides  into  inactivity ; 
a  zeal  that  has  nothing  to  do  rushes  forward  into  fanaticism.  This 
Christian  institution  unites  hope  and  work.  If  adequately  sus¬ 
tained,  its  blessings  will  be  numerous  and  extensive ;  but  its  estab¬ 
lishment  on  an  enduring  basis  will  require  resolute  effort,  self-denial, 
and  patience.  Much  is  to  be  done  in  raising  funds  for  the  build¬ 
ings  ;  in  providing  an  endowment  for  the  Professors  ;  in  obtaining 
scholars  of  promise ;  in  giving  a  high  Christian  character  to  the  en- 

*  We  have  read  with  care  11  Slavery  and  its  Remedy  •  or,  Principles  and  Sug¬ 
gestions  for  a  Remedial  Code,  by  Samuel  Nott a  production  of  much  interest 
and  received  with  some  favour  at  the  South.  A  remedial  code,  like  that  sug¬ 
gested,  would  be  highly  beneficial. 


45 


terprise,  and  in  so  directing  its  plans  and  operations  as  to  secure  the 
confidence  of  the  public  in  its  progress  and  success.  By  God’s  bless¬ 
ing,  all  this  will  be  accomplished,  but  not  without  much  labour  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  analogies  of  Providence. 

Other  institutions  of  a  similar  character  will  doubtless  be  estab¬ 
lished,  in  the  light  of  the  example  of  the  Ashinun  Institute.  If 
our  present  undertaking  should  happily  succeed,  it  will  lead  the 
way  for  greater  efforts  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  The  interests 
of  our  coloured  population  have  been  too  much  neglected.  Large 
and  generous  provision  for  their  education  ought  to  be  furnished, 
wherever  Providence  favours  it.  Academies  of  a  high  order  are 
needed  in  many  places  for  the  purpose  of  developing  African  mind 
to  its  full  capabilities.  “  The  night  is  far  spent ;  the  day  is  at 
hand.” 

The  Ashmun  Institute  excites  much  interest  in'the  Presbyterian 
Church.  An  official  recommendation  of  its  aims  and  plans  has 
been  given  by  the  General  Assembly  with  a  hearty  good-will,  and 
in  consistency  with  a  clear,  Christian  testimony,  repeatedly  placed 
on  record,  in  reference  to  the  whole  subject  of  Slavery  and  Coloni¬ 
zation.  Our  Church  maintains  impregnably  the  scriptural  ground, 
on  this  important  social  and  political  question.  Its  general  views 
and  principles  may  be  summarily  stated  as  follows :  (1)  The  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church  affirms  that  Scripture  tolerates  slavery  under  cer¬ 
tain  circumstances,  and  that  the  relation  is  not  necessarily  and 
always  sinful.  (2)  It  inculcates  the  reciprocal  duties  of  masters 
and  slaves,  employing  discipline  when  required.  (3)  It  carries  the 
Gospel  to  all  classes  of  society,  in  the  spirit  of  love.  (4)  It  re¬ 
gards  the  system  of  Slavery  as  unjust  in  its  beginning,  anomalous 
in  its  continuance,  and  naturally  doomed  to  extinction  by  the  force 
of  circumstances  and  the  prevalence  of  truth.  (5)  It  favours  all 
measures  that  aim  at  the  elevation  and  welfare  of  the  African  race, 
at  home  or  abroad. — Our  ministers  in  the  Slave-holding  States  are 
labouring  with  zeal,  fidelity,  and  success,  to  evangelize  all  classes 
of  the  population.  Many  of  them  have  a  special  service  for  the 
slaves.  They  pray  and  preach  and  live  in  the  faith  of  precious 
promises,  in  the  hope  of  present  and  everlasting  blessings,  and  in 
the  love  of  God  and  of  their  fellow-men.  Whatever  imperfection 
of  spirit  and  of  service  the  Presbyterian  Church  may  be  guilty  of, 
in  the  infirmity  incident  to  all  human  administration,  she  pleads  its 
forgiveness  through  the  blood  of  her  Lord  and  Intercessor.  She 
has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  African  race  ;  and  hails 
the  Ashmun  Institute  as  a  dispenser  of  God’s  blessings  with  the 
right  hand  and  with  the  left. 

The  Institute  has  been  put  into  operation  in  the  true  spirit  of  de¬ 
votion  to  Africa,  and  with  a  firm  trust  in  God.  It  will  do  its  work 
silently,  and,  it  is  hoped,  with  power.  Educational  institutions,  for 
the  elevation  of  the  African  race  here,  will  propel  their  influence 
through  the  hills  and  plains  of  a  vast  continent.  Like  the  great 


I 


46 


African  rivers,  which  flow  down  in  their  bounty  and  magnificence 
from  sources  hitherto  unexplored  and  unknown,  our  institutions  of 
education  will  pour  their  blessings  through  tribes  and  kingdoms, 
albeit  their  names  and  their  fountain-heads  may  never  be  ascertained 
or  sought  after.  The  men,  who  have  projected  this  institution, 
have  enlarged  views,  and  are  valiant  men  for  God  and  Africa.  The 
spirit  of  ancient  Presbyterianism  dwells  in  their  hearts. 

u  The  valiant  standeth  as  a  rock,  and  the  billows  break  upon  him.” 

President  Davies,  the  great  Apostle  to  the  slaves,  was  born  and 
ordained  within  the  bounds  of  Newcastle  Presbytery.  If  the  in¬ 
stitution  should  disappoint  public  expectation,  the  fault  will  not  be 
with  its  projectors.  The  Ashmun  Institute  is  national  in  its  claims. 
It  invites  co-operation  from  every  section  of  the  Church  and  from 
every  lover  of  his  country  and  of  Africa.  Its  relations  are  wide¬ 
spread,  and  of  intense  interest.  It  seeks  to  realize  the  great  maxim 
of  Ashmun,  “  to  accomplish  the  most  possible  good  in  the  least 
time.”  It  aims  at  a  connection  with  God’s  great  providential 
plans.  May  it  flourish  for  generations  !  May  it  stand  like  the 
African  palm-tree,  majestic  for  stateliness  and  beauty,  and  the 
emblem  of  prosperity ;  its  fruit  giving  food,  and  its  shade  affording 
rest,  to  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  in  the  ancestral  tropical 
land. 

Heaven  bless  the  Institute  in  its  plans,  its  officers,  and  its  pupils. 
Bless  it,  God  of  Ethiopia,  who  hast  “made  of  one  blood  all  nations 
of  men.”  Be  thou  glorified  on  every  continent !  Be  thou  glori¬ 
fied  by  Africa  ! 


APPENDIX. 


ASHMUN  INSTITUTE. 

The  Aslimun  Institute  was  established  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  at  a 
Stated  Meeting,  held  on  the  5th  of  October  1853,  when  the  initiatory  action  was 
taken. 

“  This  Presbytery,  trusting  in  God,  and,  under  Him,  depending  on  the  Chris¬ 
tian  liberality  of  the  friends  of  the  African  race 
mine  as  follows : 

u  There  shall  be  established  within  our  bounds,  and  under  our  supervision,  an 
Institution,  to  be  called  the  Ashmun  Institute,  for  the  Scientific,  Classical,  and 
Theological  education  of  coloured  youth  of  the  male  sex.” 

At  this  meeting,  measures  were  also  taken  to  procure  a  Charter  from  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  under¬ 
taking.  A  Board  of  Trustees  was  also  nominated,  and  their  powers  defined  as 
follows  :  11  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Board,  under  general  instructions  from  this 
Presbytery,  to  put  up  suitable  buildings  and  improvements,  as  they  may  have  the 
necessary  means ;  in  no  case  ever  involving  this  Presbytery  in  pecuniary  obliga¬ 
tions.  They  shall  appoint  the  teachers  and  professors,  and  name  their  salaries ; 
they  shall  establish  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  Institution  ; 
they  shall  have  authority  to  procure  its  endowment,  not  exceeding  the  sum  of 
$100,000  ;  and,  when  required  by  this  Presbytery,  they  shall  report  to  it  the  state 
of  the  Institution,  the  state  of  the  funds,  and  all  interests  committed  to  their 
trust.” 

On  the  14th  of  November  following,  this  Committee,  having  met  and  elected 
their  officers,  agreed  to  purchase  a  certain  property,  containing  about  thirty  acres, 
for  the  sum  of  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ;  and  they  appointed  a  sub-com¬ 
mittee  to  draw  up  a  copy  of  the  charter,  and  procure  its  enactment  by  the  Legis¬ 
lature  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  1854,  an  Act  of  Incorporation  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  in  conformity  with  the  wishes  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle. 

The  buildings  were  finished  in  1856,  and  consist  of  the  Principal’s  house  and 
the  Academical  edifice.  The  Principal’s  house  is  40  feet  by  36,  two  stories  in 
height,  well  arranged,  and  neatly  but  plainly  finished.  The  school  or  college 
building  proper,  is  plain  in  its  style,  yet  with  an  imposing  fagade,  three  storied,  and 
admirably  arranged  for  all  the  purposes  of  such  an  establishment  ;  the  first  story 
furnishes  apartments  for  the  steward,  and  a  large  dining-room  5  the  second, 
reached  from  without  by  a  flight  of  steps,  affords  two  fine  recitation  rooms  and  a 
hall  of  instruction  30  feet  by  40  ;  on  the  third,  there  are  eight  well-ventilated 
dormitories  of  good  size.  On  the  front  a  stone  is  placed  bearing  the  name  of 
the  Institution,  the  date  of  its  erection,  and  this  significant  and  cheering  motto, 
“  The  night  is  far  spent,  the  day  is  at  hand.” 

The  location  is  one  of  the  finest  that  could  be  selected.  It  overlooks  the 
country  for  miles  around,  and  has  a  beautiful  view  of  cultivated  fields  and  wooded 
hills  and  fertile  valleys.  The  site  is  equidistant  from  the  churches  of  Oxford, 


throughout  our  country,  do  deter- 


48 


New  London,  and  Fagg’s  Manor  (about  four  miles  from  each) ;  and  is  near  a 
village  called  Hinsonville,  where  some  families  of  coloured  persons  have  resided 
for  a  number  of  years,  being  owners  of  small  tracts  of  land. 

On  the  3 1st  of  December,  1857,  the  Ashmun  Institute  was  dedicated  to  the 
purpose  of  its  erection,  and  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Carter,  A.M.,  of  Maryland,  was  in¬ 
stalled  President  and  Professor  of  Theology. 

The  following  is  the  Circular  of  the  Trustees : 

THE  ASHMUN  INSTITUTE : 

A  COLLEGE  AND  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  FOR  THE  EDUCATION  OF 

COLOURED  MEN. 

The  Trustees  of  this  Institution  respectfully  announce  that  they  have  elected 
the  Rev.  John  P.  Carter,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore,  President  of  the  Faculty ; 
and  that  its  sessions  were  opened  on  the  1st  of  January,  1857,  with  fair  prospects, 
as  to  pupils  and  ultimate  success. 

The  course  of  instruction  will  be  liberal  and  thorough ;  designed  to  prepare 
students  for  the  work  of  missionaries  in  Africa,  for  the  Gospel  ministry  among 
the  coloured  people  in  this  country,  and  for  any  other  position  of  usefulness  to 
which  they  may  be  called. 

The  collegiate  year  will  be  one  session  of  eight  months ;  commencing  on  the 
1st  of  September  and  closing  on  the  1st  of  May. 

For  theological  students  there  will  be  no  charge  for  tuition.  Their  only  ex¬ 
pense  will  be  for  boarding  and  incidentals,  per  session,  $85. 

Students,  not  having  the  ministry  in  view,  will  be  charged,  per  session,  $110. 
This  sum  covers  all  expenses  for  tuition,  boarding,  and  incidentals. 

As  it  is  not  expected  that  the  class  of  persons  for  whose  benefit  this  institution 
is  established,  will  be  able  to  sustain  themselves  in  receiving  an  education,  and 
as  it  is  not  designed,  at  the  present  time,  to  attempt  to  endow  the  Institution,  the 
Trustees  appeal  to  the  Christian  community  to  furnish  those  means  as  they  may 
be  required.  They  look  to  the  churches  and  other  ecclesiastical  bodies,  and  to 
benevolent  masters,  to  furnish  both  the  students  and  the  means  to  educate  them. 

The  Trustees  have  erected  suitable  buildings  for  the  residence  of  the  Faculty, 
and  a  college  edifice  for  the  accommodation  of  forty  pupils,  embracing  a  fine 
prayer  hall,  recitation  and  study  rooms,  &c. 

The  location  is  at  Hinsonville,  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  surrounded  by 
the  Presbyterian  congregations  of  Oxford,  Fagg’s  Manor,  and  New  London,  and 
can  be  reached  by  public  conveyance  from  Parkesburg,  on  the  Columbia  Rail¬ 
road,  Pa.,  and  from  Newark,  Delaware,  on  the  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  and  Wil¬ 
mington  Railroad. 

Donations  in  money,  library  and  text  books,  apparatus,  furniture,  clothing,  &c., 
will  be  very  thankfully  received. 

Communications,  relating  to  the  Institution,  may  be  addressed  to 

REF.  J.  P.  CARTER, 

President  of  the  Faculty,  Oxford,  Pa. 

Or,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  M.  Dickey,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  Oxford,  Chester 
County,  Pa. 


TRUSTEES. — MEMBERS  OF  NEW  CASTLE  PRESBYTERY. 

Ministers:  J.  M.  Dickey,  Oxford;  J.  B.  Spotswood,  New  Castle;  Jas.  Latta, 
Penningtonville ;  Alfred  Hamilton,  Fagg’s  Manor;  Wm.  Chester,  Philadelphia. 

Elders:  J.  M.  Kelton,  New  London ;  S.  J.  Dickey,  Hopewell;  Wm.  Wilson, 
Chatham. 


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